GB2155796A - Apparatus for playing a game - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus for playing a game, for example one based on soccer, comprises board game apparatus 1, in combination with a computer 3 and a display 2. The board game apparatus comprises playing pieces, representing football teams, a plurality of cards, dice and a board marked with stadia and interconnecting paths. Results of matches (determined by the throw of dice and cards held by the players) are entered on the computer which computes a league table, the next matches to be played in the league and the gate income to be attributed to a team in dependence upon its position in the league. Chance and hazard conditions, such as the weather, which contribute to the outcome of the matches are displayed by the computer. The program for the game is carried on a cassette 6 as a plurality of recordings, each compatible with a respective operating software configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for playing a game Field of the invention This invention relates to apparatus for playing a game.

Background to the invention Board games of many types are well known in which players move pieces across the board under the control for example of dice. The games are thus determined by interaction of the players with the board. The present invention seeks to provide apparatus for playing a game, using a board but in which much more complex player interactions with the board can be achieved.

Summary of the invention In accordance with the present invention from a first aspect there is provided apparatus for playing a game, comprising board game apparatus, and microprocessor controlled means programmed to provide a request for or a display of information pertinent to playing of the board game. Conventiently, the microprocessor controlled means may comprise a home computer.

The present invention has the advantage of substantially enhancing the quality of game that can be played by means of board game apparatus, because the microprocessor means can perform complex computations on a fixed or random basis to provide data pertinent to playing the game that would not be possible in a conventional manual board game. Also, the apparatus according to the invention is advantageous compared with conventional computer games in that the provision of a board permits many players to participate. Furthermore it allows elements of information not to be available to all the participants.

The invention has particular but not exclusive application to a game wherein players or teams engage in a competitive endeavour, and the microprocessor means computes the relative performance of the players or teams as a result of the outcome of said endeavour. The apparatus according to the invention can thus be used for representing a game such as football (i.e. soccer) American football or baseball, wherein the microprocessor means computes a league table for the teams as a result of the outcome of matches between the teams.

In a presently preferred form of the invention each participant in the game controls a team and can be considered as the team manager. The board represents a territory for example a map of Great Britain or U.S.A., on which is shown a plurality of game venues, such as stadia in different towns or cities. The microprocessor means provides a display instructing the teams to travel to the different stadia. Each team is represented by a playing piece on the board, and the participants move their pieces to the instructed venues along transport paths, for example by throwing dice to determine the distance travelled along the paths.

When the teams reach the allotted venue, matches take place between the teams. The result of each match is determined by the value of team related indicia, for example playing cards held by the participants playing in a particular match, information from the microprocessor, and preferably also the value of dice thrown.

Each participant adds his score from the dice and the cards. A conversion table on the board may be used to convert the scores into a number of goals when the game is embodied as a football game. The scores are then manually entered into the microprocessor means, which is programmed to compute and display a league table for the teams independence upon the match scores. The microprocessor means may also provide a random display of a parameter for affecting the outcome of the competitive endeavour, for example a display indicative of weather conditions for the match. The cards held by the participants may represent footballers in the team and may have different numerical values.Some players may for example be usable in a match only for fine weather so if bad weather is displayed by the microprocessor means the values for fine weather players should be excluded from the team's match score.

The microprocessore means may also display a user selectable random display of a parameter for affecting the outcome of the competitive endeavour. For example, if a participant's piece lands on one of a number of predetermined positions on the transport paths on the board, herein called chance positions, a predetermined control of the microprocessor means is operated and the microprocessor means is programmed to display on a random basis an instruction which will alter the game, for example an unexpected accident to players, or an unexpected expense.

The microprocessor may also be arranged to display on a non-user selectable basis, e.g. on a random time basis, a random display of a parameter for affecting the outcome of the competitive endeavour. The parameter may be considered as a hazard and may affect all participants in the game.

The microprocessor means may allocate an income to the participants in dependence upon the results of the competitive endeavour; thus the teams may receive an income depending on their position in the league table. This income is spent on travel to the venues and may also be spent on team players represented by the player cards.

Player cards of higher numerical values may be more expensive.

As previously mentioned, the programmed microprocessor means conveniently may comprise a home computer, and the program for the game may be provided on recording media such as a tape cassette for the computer. Different makes of computer require different software configurations and so a program recorded on a magnetic storage medium in a format for one computer type will not necessarily operate on another type of computer.

With a view to overcoming this difficulty the present invention provides in a second aspect a recording medium suitable for being played by com puters requiring different predetermined operating software configurations, said medium having a predetermined program recorded thereon a plurality of times, the recordings being in the predeter mined different operating software configurations.

Preferably the recording medium includes predetermined recordings for permitting different computers to recognise the one of said recordings corresponding to its operating software. Conveniently, the recording medium comprises a magnetic recording medium and is preferably embodied as a tape cassette.

This second aspect of the invention has particular but not exclusive application to the first aspect thereof, and may provide a common tape cassette with the game program recorded a plurality of times in forms for use with different types of home computer.

Brief description of the drawings In order that the invention may be more fully understood an embodiment thereof for a football league game, will now be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of apparatus according to the invention, showing the board and a home computer, Figure 2 is a more detailed plan view of the board, Figure 3 is a schematic view of the display provided by the home computer, and Figure 4 illustrates the recording of the program in the cassette 6 of Figure 1.

Description of preferred embodiments Referring firstly to Figure 1, the general configuration of the apparatus is shown. A game board 1 is situated next to a home or personal computer configuration. The computer configuration is by way of illustration shown as a t.v. monitor 2, a home computer 3 with a keyboard 4, and a tape cassette player 5 which receives a "Phillips" type magnetic tape cassette 6. The tape cassette is prerecorded with a program for the computer 3.

The board 1 is shown in more detail in Figure 2 and comprises a map of the UK on which is shown football stadia 10 in various cities. Roads 11 and railways 12 provide transport paths between the stadia. Up to eight people can participate in the game. Each participant manages a football team, and the aim of the game is to be top of the Football League, the league positions being calculated by the computer 3.

The following apparatus is used in conjection with the board: 24 Player Cards.

15 Chance Cards.

20 Match Day Cards.

20 50,000 Loan Notes.

2 Dice.

8 Plastic Footballer Playing Pieces.

Bank Notes of Various Denominations.

The game is prepared for play as follows: Firstly the program from the cassette 6 is loaded into the computer 3.

Next, the Player Cards are divided into three piles of eight and are placed face up on the board at positions 13, 14 and 15 shown in Figure 2. The Match Day Cards are shuffled and placed face down at position 16 on the board 2.

The participants elect a Banker who will look after the money, the Chance Cards, the Loan Notes and the plastic footballers; they also elect a Computer Operator. Also, the participants each pick a ground 10 for the team they are to manage - all grounds have different colours.

The Banker then gives to each manager the correct coloured footballer playing pieces and 100,000.

The program 6 is so arranged that initially, on the t.v. screen 2, each manager will be asked for the name of his team. The Computer Operator then enters the selected names. Where there are not eight people playing, the manager-less teams should be given distinguishing names, i.e. Red Rovers if playing from the red ground. When the names for the teams have been entered into the computer 3, it will provide a list on screen 2 of the matches to be played the first team being mentioned being the home team. The teams are represented by the appropriately coloured plastic footballer playing pieces, and the teams which have managers start from their home ground.If at any stage a player is directed to play at his home ground when he is already at home, he must throw one dice only, place his playing piece initially at an appropriately numbered coastal resort area, and then move back to the home ground.

The participants move their footballer playing pieces to the grounds as listed on the t.v. screen 2.

Travelling to the grounds can be done by roads 11 or by railways 12. Each manager must state his travelling method in advance of the match and pay the Bank 500 for road or 2,000 for rail, which is quicker. Each manager takes turns to throw the two dice and move his footballer playing piece to the ground stated on the screen. The score on the dice indicates the number of road squares or stations by which the participant can move his piece.

If his throw takes him to a square or station already occupied he must move to the next available square or station.

If a manager lands on chance positions comprising certain predetermined road squares 17 or cer tain rail stations shown as a white circle 18, the Computer Operator presses "C" on the computer 3 and a Chance Card is displayed on the screen. The Chance Card may provide good or bad fortune for the manager, e.g. he may receive a gift of money from other teams or from the bank or he may find that some of his players are banned from the next match. The Chance Card display may instruct the Banker to give a particular Chance Card to the par ticipant for use on a Match Day as will be explained hereinafter.

If a manager lands on other predetermined squares 19, he takes the top card from the Match Day Cards pack 16. The cards are held until Match Day as will be explained hereinafter.

If a manager arrives at his designated ground, and, when his turn comes round again a second manager has still not arrived at the second managers designated ground, the first manager may purchase a Player Card. The price is shown on the face of the card and this price must be paid to the Bank. If the manager does not have enough money he can borrow money from the Bank in amounts of 50,000 up to 150,000, the banker giving him the money plus the Loan Notes. No manager can hold more than 150,000 in Loan Notes and Loan Notes cannot be redeemed. In addition to the price, the Player Card shows the number of points a player is worth, his position on the field (1-11), the weather conditions under which he cannot play, and his wages. No manager may buy more than one player from the Banker between any two matches.

When all managers have arrived at their designated grounds it is Match Day. Before matches are played those managers with Loan Notes have to pay the bank 5,000 interest for each 50,000 Loan Note they have. Matches are played in the order displayed on the screen with the second named team, the "Away" team playing first.

The outcome of a match is determined as follows: Each manager throws both dice. If a team concerned does not have a manager, another manager throws the dice for the team. Each manager adds to his score the points shown on those of his Player Cards that are eligible to play. A Player Card can be ineligible because he cannot play in the weather shown on the screen (as will be shown hereinafter), or because a Chance Card has prevented him from playing. In addition no manager may play more than one Player Card with the same position (1-11). A team without a manager adds 4 points to its score. Once the Away and Home teams have played, the Away team manager may play one Match Day Card and finally the Home team manager may play one Match Day Card.The Match Day Cards, introduce an uncertainty to the result of the match, and for example may render some of the opposing team's players unusable, e.g. by injury. The final scores are then converted into goals using a chart 2 at the bottom of the board 2. Used Match Day Cards are replaced at the bottom of the Match Day Card pack 16.

The goals are entered on the computer 3 by the Computer Operator. When the goals of the two teams have been entered the Banker pays out the home team and presses "Y" on the computer.

Once all scores have been entered, the computer then calculates the league position and displays the next fixtures.

An example of the resulting display on the t.v.

screen 2 is shown in Figure 3. On the upper part of the screen is shown a league table 21 wherein the names of eight football teams are shown in league order, the table being displayed in conventional football format. Region 22 of the screen shows a list of fixtures or games to be played for the next match day, with the home teams shown on the lefthand side. The gate money payable by the Bank to the home teams is shown in region 22, the sum concerned being calculated by the computer so as to be higher for a higher position in the league table.

Region 23 of the screen shows the week in the Season; one Match Day occurs each week and fourteen Match Days are required to complete the league.

In region 24 of the screen, the prevailing weather conditions for the Match Day are shown.

In Figure 3 muddy conditions are displayed, by way of example. The computer 3 randomly selects this weather condition display.

Region 25 provides a display of standard operating instructions.

Periodically the computer will flash up "HAZ ARD". The Computer Operator then presses "H" on the computer which displays a hazard which affects all the managers. For example, the managers may be instructed to pay for repairs to their home grounds, for which money is to be paid to the Bank.

If a manager cannot meet his liabilities he must sell sufficient Player Cards to raise the necessary finance. He can either auction his Player Cards to the highest bidder or return them to the bank who will pay him half their face value and then place them face up on top of the Player Card pack with the least Player Cards remaining. If, after a manager has disposed of all his Player Cards, he still cannot meet his liabilities, he is deemed to have been fired from the club which is then treated as a team without a manager.

Money can only be borrowed to buy players, it cannot be borrowed to prevent bankruptcy.

Once each team has played all the other seven teams at home and away (fourteen match days) the winning team is displayed on the screen.

The second aspect of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 4, which shows in more detail the configuration of the software recorded on the magnetic tape in the tape cassette 6. Figure 4 shows schematically an unwound section of the magnetic tape. A feature of the tape cassette 6 is that it is compatible with a plurality of different makes of home computer; thus enabling the game to be marketed with one cassette, and thereby avoiding the need to manufacture a plurality of different cassettes, one for each computer type.

As shown in Figure 4, the same program for the game is serially recorded on magnetic tape 26 a plurality of times 27, 28, 29.

Recording 27 is configured for a Sinclair Spectrum Computer, recording 28 is configured for a Commodore 64 Computer, whereas recording 29 is configured for yet another home computer. Each recording may have associated therewith a header recording 27a, 28a, 29a, which may be recognised by the computer type concerned; this may be a characteristic tone frequency, or could be an audible message indicating the program designation, to be replayed via the audio system of the cassette player 5.

Whilst this second aspect of the invention has been described in relation to the football board game software, it will be appreciated it is applicable to any computer software, and in particular to other computer games which may or may not use a board.

Also, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention is applicable to other forms of games, and in particular but not exclusively to other games having a league, e.g. American football, baseball or basketball. Also, the map of the UK could, for American football or baseball be replaced by a map of the U.S.A.

Claims (22)

1. Apparatus for playing a game, comprising board game apparatus, and microprocessor controlled means programmed to provide a display of information pertinent to playing of the board game.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the board game apparatus is for engaging a plurality of players in a competitive endeavour, and wherein said microprocessor controlled means is configured to receive data in dependence upon an outcome of said endeavour and to compute a relative performance to be associated with the players respectively.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said microprocessor controlled means is configured to define for the players a reward in dependence upon the outcome of said competitive endeavour.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said competitive endeavour comprises matches of a game, and the microprocessor controlled means is arranged to provide a display of a league table concerning outcomes of the matches.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said board game apparatus includes a board with a representation of a plurality of venues at which matches of the game are to be played, and a plurality of playing pieces, and random number generator means to be used by each player in determining the outcome of a said match.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said random number generator means comprises a dice.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 including cards to be acquired by the players, the cards having values for affecting the outcome of the matches.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the cards have different attributable values for a match in dependence upon a predetermined condition having a variable state, and said microprocessor controlled means is arranged to provide a display of the state of said condition for each occurence of a match.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said predetermined condition comprises a simulation of a weather condition.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said cards include cards to be purchased by the players of the game.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said cards include non-purchasable cards to be acquired by the players as a result of events in the game.

12. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said board game apparatus includes means defining transport paths for the playing pieces between the venues, and random number generator means for controlling movement of the playing pieces along the paths.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 including means designating transport paths of different speeds having different costs.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said paths include chance positions, which if landed upon by a playing piece, require the player to take account of a random display of parameter for effecting the outcome of the endeavour for that player.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said random display of said parameter is produced by the microprocessor controlled means.

16. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said microprocessor controlled means is arranged to display on a substantially random basis a parameter for affecting the outcome of the competitive endeavour for all of the players.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the microprocessor controlled means provides after each match a display of the next venue to be reached by a playing piece along the transport paths, together with an income in dependence upon the position of the piece in the league table.

18. A recording medium for being played by computers requiring different predetermined operating software configurations, said medium having a predetermined program recorded thereon a plurality of times, the recordings being in the predetermined different operating software configurations.

19. A recording medium according to claim 18 wherein each of said program recordings has associated therewith a respective different predetermined header recording to be recognised for computers utilising the different operating software configurations.

20. A recording medium according to claim 19 wherein each said header recording comprises a characteristic tone signal to be recognised by the computer.

21. A recording medium according to claim 19 wherein said header recording comprises a recording of an audible message designating the type of computer for which the recording is appropriate.

22. A recording medium according to claim 19 comprising magnetic tape in a tape cassette.