GB2178667A - Apparatus for playing a game - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a game comprises a playing board (4) which is adapted to be secured in an upstanding position between two players, two sets of playing pieces (18, 20) one set for each player, the playing pieces being pointed so that they can be stuck into the faces (14, 16) of the playing board. The playing board is made of a material into which the playing pieces (18, 20) can be stuck and is not provided with predetermined holes for receiving the playing pieces. The playing board is also constructed to provide electrical circuits that operate indicator means (30), eg lights, when there is electrical contact between a playing piece (18) of the first player which has been inserted in the first face (14) of the playing board and a playing piece (20) of the second player which has been inserted in the second face (16) of the playing board. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for playing a game This invention relations to apparatus for playing a game. More especially, this invention relates to apparatus for playing a game using a two sided electrical playing board.

Games involving playing pieces which are moved over playing boards in full view of the players are very well known. It is usual for the surface of the playing board to be provided with markings showing the permitted placing of the playing pieces in accordance with the rules of the game. Examples of such games are chess, draughts and ludo.

Some of the more recent known games are designed to simulate real life situations and problems. Thus, for example, there is the well known game of Monopoly (Registered Trade Mark) which simulates real life property development and acquisition situations. War games are also known and these war games are also typical of games which simulate real life situations and problems. The war games tend to be over complicated and they are often restricted to one particular battle so that the variety needed to keep players interested over a long period of time is not present. Moreover, the games are often such that the opponents can see each other's moves and this eliminates the element of uncertainty and therefore much excitement from the games.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide apparatus for playing a game which uses both sides of a playing board and in which a pair of players cannot see each other's playing moves.

Accordingly, this invention provides apparatus for playing a game, which apparatus comprises a playing board which is adapted to be secured in an upstanding position so that a first face of the playing board is visible to a first player but not to a second player and so that a second face of the playing board is visible to the second player but not to the first player, a first set of playing pieces for the first player, and a second set of playing pieces for the second player, the playing pieces being pointed so that they can be stuck into the faces of the playing board, the playing board being made of a material into which the playing pieces can be stuck so that the playing board is not provided with predetermined holes for receiving the playing pieces, and the playing board being provided with an electrical circuit that operates indicator means when there is electrical contact between a playing piece of the first player which has been inserted in the first face of the playing board and a playing piece of the second player which has been inserted in the second face of the playing board.

Usually, the upstanding position of the playing board will be vertical but the playing board can be inclined at an angle to the vertical if desired.

The playing board may slot into a base in order to enable the board to be secured in its upstanding position. The board can otherwise be secured in its upstanding position, for example by the use of stays.

Usually, the electrical circuit will be inside the playing board. The electrical contact may be direct or indirect.

The playing board is preferably a laminated playing board with electrical circuits sandwiched between layers of the playing board.

The playing board may be a laminated playing board which is composed of four layers of material, the first and second layers sandwiching between them thin strips of electrically conducting material which are spaced apart in columns, the second and third layers sandwiching between them squares of electrical conducting sheet material, and the third and fourth layers sandwiching between them thin strips of electrically conducting material which are arranged in spaced apart rows, the laminated playing board then having a grid of electrically conducting squares through which the indicating means are activated when playing pieces from both players are in the same playing square.

There may be ten thin strips of the electrically conducting material arranged in the spaced apart columns, one hundred of the squares of electrically conducting sheet material, and ten strips of the electrically conducting material arranged in the spaced apart rows. Other numbers may be employed, it being appreciated that the number of squares of electrically conducting sheet material employed will normally be the multiple of the number of strips of electrically conducting material arranged in the spaced apart columns multiplied by the number of strips of the electrically conducting material arranged in the spaced apart rows.

The indicator means is preferably constituted by a plurality of indicator lamps. The indicator lamps can advantageously be arranged in two sets, one set of the indicator lamps being positioned along the top of the playing board for indicating a column in which player contact has been made, and the other set of the indicator lamps being positioned along one side of the playing board for indicating a row in which player contact has been made.

The number of indicator lamps employed along the top of the playing board will normally be equal to the number of columns of the electrically conducting material, and the number of indicator lamps employed along one side of the playing board will normally be equal to the number of rows of the electrically conducting material.

The playing board may include non-conductive material for preventing player contact in certain areas. This prevention of player contact in certain areas where contact would otherwise normally be made, can introduce a surprising and interesting element of uncertainty into games played with the apparatus of the invention, for example war games.

The playing board may include an integrally formed playing board design such for example as an orthogonal grid mapping the predeter mined pattern of the electrically conducting areas in the playing board. The playing board design may be any design suited to the game to be played.

As an alternative to providing the board with the integrally formed playing board design, the playing board design may be provided on separate sheets of material which can then be secured to the playing board. It will be appreciated that the basic construction of the playing board will not require alteration and so various different games, or different scenarios of the same type of game, can be played merely by removing one type of playing board design from the playing board and providing another type of playing board design.

Normally, the playing board design on the second face of the playing board will be a mirror image of the playing board design on the first face of the playing board, so that both players play with the same playing board design. Where different playing board designs are to be provided on the playing board, then these playing board designs may be provided on any desired sheets of material such for example as sheets of paper, soft plastics material or other thin electrically non-conducting material which is suitably easily penetrated by the playing pieces.

In order to facilitate any desired communication between the first and the second players, the playing board may be provided with a grid having columns and rows which bear alpha-numeric references.

The first and the second sets of playing pieces may be pins.

The pins may have knobs at one end for enabling them easily to be inserted into and removed from the playing board.

Soth sets of pins may be of the same or a different colour and they may be of the same or a different construction.

The apparatus of the invention may be battery and/or mains operated. Where a battery is employed, this is preferably a rechargeable battery. The apparatus of the invention is then advantageously provided with a socket enabling the battery to be recharged in situ.

The material for the playing board can be any suitable material such for example as a cellular plastics material. The various electrical circuits will usually be made from an electrically conducting thin and pliable material such for example as copper.

Where the playing board is a laminated playing board with the various laminations be ing substantially the same thickness, then the playing pieces will usually be so constructed that their parts which are to be inserted into the playing board are longer than half the thickness of the playing board.

The apparatus of the invention may be provided with a storage box which forms a base for the playing board when the playing board is to be secured in its upstanding position.

The apparatus of the invention may advantageously include storage means for storing those playing pieces not in use. The storage means may comprise strips of material into which the playing pieces are stuck.

The apparatus of the present invention is preferably for playing a war game so that the playing board will then be provided with a war game design and this war game design can either be formed as part of the playing board or on sheet material which is subsequently secured to the playing board. Both sides of the playing board will of course receive the same war design.

Any desired game can be played with the apparatus of the invention and new games can also be provided which require the use of the playing board. Where war games or geographical games are being played, then standard maps may be employed or, alternatively, the players can make up their own maps. Ordnance survey and other maps are available with grids proportional to the playing grids and these maps can be advantageously used with the apparatus of the present invention.

As mentioned above, the apparatus of the invention preferably includes a battery as the power source. The power source may thus be, for example, a 9 volt dry battery. Alternatively, if desired, a purpose built electronic device may be provided as an optional extra for use with the playing board, the electronic device being not only capable of supplying a steady DC current to the playing board but also being able to cause the indicator means in the form of lamps to flash continuously at a low frequency of, for example, 2 Hz. It will of course be appreciated that the indicator means can also be audible indicator means and the audible indicator means can be used in conjunction with visual indicator means.

The electronic device may comprise an asta bie multivibrator, preferably utilising an integrated circuit operational amplifier, followed by an emitter-follower connected transistor which supplies current to the playing board.

The emitter-follower provides necessary current gain, since the maximum output current obtainable from the operational amplifier may be insufficient for the indicator lamps.

Where a choice between different types of indicator means is given, then manual switches may be provided giving the players the opportunity to select the appropriate type of indicator means required.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising a playing board which is shown as upstanding from a storage box; Figure 2 is a plan view of a first face of the playing board, the first face being for a first player; Figure 3 is a plan view of a second face of the playing board, the second face being for a second player; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the playing board in use; Figure 5 shows, before assembly of the playing board, details of both faces of a first lamination layer; Figure 6 shows, before assembly of the playing board, details of both faces of a second lamination layer; Figure 7 shows, before assembly of the playing board, details of both faces of a fourth lamination layer;; Figure 8 shows indicator means in the form of lamps and shows schematically how the lamps referring to playing board grid rows are incorporated into the playing board; Figure 8 shows indicator means in the form of lamps and shows schematically how the lamps referring to board grid columns are incorporated into the playing board; Figure 10 is an exploded view indicating how to arrange the lamination layers shown in Figures 5 to 7 in order to construct the playing board; Figure 11 illustrates what happens within the playing board when playing pieces are opposing within a single grid square; Figure 12 illustrates what happens within the playing board when playing pieces are opposing within two grid squares which are adjacent along a row or column of the playing board;; Figures 13 and 14 illustrate how non-playerresponsive areas can be provided to give "cloud cover" simulation over a map used with the playing board; and Figure 1 5 shows a circuit diagram of a possible alternative power source for the playing board, the circuit also being able to give an audible indication of when opposing playing pieces are making contact.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown apparatus 2 for playing a game. The apparatus 2 comprises a playing board 4 which is secured in an upstanding position as shown in Figure 1 by means of stays 6. The stays 6 extend as illustrated between vertical edges of the playing board 4 and sides 8,10 of a sto rage box 12. The box 12 can be the box in which the apparatus 2 is sold so that the box 12 can house the playing board 4 when a game is not being played.

The playing board 4 has a first face 14 which is visible to a first player but not to a second player. The playing board 4 also has a second face 16 which is visible to the second player but not to the first player.

The apparatus 2 comprises a first set of playing pieces in the form of pins 18 for the first player and a second set of playing pieces in the form of pins 20 for the second player.

The pins 18 are provided with pointed ends so that they can be stuck in the first face 14 of the playing board 4 as shown. When the pins are not in use, they can be stored in storage means in the form of strips 22 of material into which the pins 18 can be stuck.

Similar strips of material 24 form storage means for the pins 20 of the second player.

The box 12 can be provided with writing paper 26 for both players to make notes of their various playing moves.

It will be seen from Figure 1 that the first face 14 of the playing board 4 is provided with a geographical map and that the map has a grid 28. The second face 16 of the playing board 4 is provided with a mirror image of the map and it is also provided with the grid 28. Thus, both the first and the second players have an equivalent map and they can move in the same direction.

The playing board 4 is made of an appropriate material into which the pins 18,20 can be stuck. It will thus be seen that the first and the second faces 14,16 of the playing board 4 are not provided with predetermined holes for receiving pins. The pins can be stuck exactly where desired in the first and the second faces 14,16.

The playing board 4 is provided with an electrical circuit as will be described in greater detail hereinbelow that operates indicator means in the form of lamps when an electrical contact is made between a pin 18 of the first player which has been inserted into the first face 14 of the playing board 4 and a pin 20 of the second player which has been inserted into the second face 16 of the playing board 4. The electrical contact can be achieved when the pins are contacting the same piece of electrically conducting material or when the pins 18,20 are physically in contact with each other.

Figure 2 shows in detail the first face 14 of the playing board 4 and Figure 3 shows in detail the second face 16 of the playing board 4. The grid 28 for each face 14,16 is shown.

Two rows of ten lamps 30 are provided as shown, these lamps serving as indicator means for indicating when opposing playing pin contact has been made. The twenty lamps 30 are simultaneously visible to both players and they serve to indicate by a coordinate system (not shown in Figures 2 ana 3) within which of ths grid squares 32 the pins 18, 20 may be opposing.

When the playing board 4 is in use, as shown in Figure 4, separate chosen maps may be secured by suitable means to the otherwise plain faces 14,16 of the playing board 4.

As an alternative to this, the maps could be permanently formed on the faces 14,16. As indicated above, the map on the face 16 will be a mirror image of the map on the face 14.

During playing, the pins 18,20 are stuck in the faces 14,16 where desired and according to rules of the particular game being played.

Usually the pins 18,20 will be pushed as fully as possible into the playing board 4.

The playing board 4 consists of a sandwich of four lamination layers of soft, yet rigid material. Conveniently, the lamination layers are of equal thickness of, for example, 3-4 mm each.

Figure 5 shows details of the first lamination layer 34. The side 36 of the lamination layer 34 facing the first player is marked with the playing board's discrete positions. The other side 38 of the first lamination layer 34 has ten very thin strips 40 of electrically conducting sheet material adhered to it. The strips 40 are arranged such that they exactly underly the rows of the grid 28. The length of the strips 40 is not critical but the length can conveniently be slightly longer than the width of the grid 28, for example 410 mm. The width of the strips 40 is preferably 38 mm.

This allows 2 mm gaps between the strips 40 and so prevents electrical short circuits between them. Alternatively, it could be cheaper to cut a very narrow "slot" in manufacture, starting by laminating one large piece of foil.

Figure 6 shows details of the second lamination layer 42. One side 44 of the second lamination layer 42 is left untreated. The other side 46 has 100 very thin squares 48 of electrically conducting sheet material adhered to it.

The squares 48 are arranged such that they exactly underly the squares of the grid 28.

The squares advantageously have sides which are approximately 38 mm in length. This allows 2 mm gaps between the squares 48 and so prevents electrical short circuits between them.

The third lamination layer is completely untreated on both sides.

Figure 7 shows details of the fourth lamination layer 50. One side 52 facing the second player is marked with the playing boards discrete positions. The other side 54 of the fourth lamination layer 50 has ten very thin strips 56 of electrically conducting sheet material adhered to it. The strips 56 are arranged such that they exactly underly the columns of the grid 28. The length of the strips 56 is not critical but they are conveniently a little longer than the height of the grid 28 and they may thus be, for example, 410 mm in length. The width of the strips 56 is preferably 38 mm.

This allows 2 mm gaps between the strips 56 and so prevents electrical short circuits between them.

Preferably, holes 58 are cut along two adjacent edges of all the four lamination layers such that when the four prepared lamination layers are finally held together, there are holes 58 through the entire thickness of the playing board 4. The lamps 30 can then be housed in these holes 58.

The lamps are preferably light emitting diodes since the light emitting diodes are available as "extra bright" or "wide angle" lamps which are advantageously used in the playing board 4. The way in which the lamps 30 are incorporated into the playing boards is shown most clearly in Figures 8 and 9.

Referring now to Figure 8, a positive terminal 60 of each light emitting diode is connected to the end of the strip 40 to which it corresponds. The connection is made outside the range of the grid 28, hence the reason for cutting the strips 40 a little oversize. Negative terminals 62 of the light emitting diodes are all joined together and a connection 64 is made from them to exit the playing board for connection to the negative terminal of a power source for the apparatus 2.

Referring now to Figure 9, the negative terminal 66 of each light emitting diode is connected to the end of the strip 56 to which is corresponds. The connection is made outside the range of the grid 28, hence the reason for cutting the strips 56 a little oversize. The positive terminals 68 of the light emitting diodes are all joined together and a connection 70 is made from them to exit the playing board 4 for connection to the positive terminal of a power source for the apparatus 2.

The playing board 4 is finally assembled such that the side 38 of the first lamination layer 34 faces the side 44 of the second lamination layer 42; the side 46 of the second lamination layer 42 faces one side of the third lamination layer; and the other side of the third lamination layer faces the side 54 of the fourth lamination layer 50.

Figure 10 shows an exploded view of how the lamination layers are arranged to make up the playing board 4. The third lamination layer is shown as third lamination layer 72. In Figure 10, the electronics have been omitted and the hidden faces of the two intermediate lamination layers 42 and 72 are untreated.

Figure 11 illustrates what happens within the playing board 4 when two pins 18,20 are opposing within a single grid square. It will be seen from Figure 11 that the pins 18,20 have heads in the form of discs 74 so that the pins 18,20 can easily beinserted and pushed into the playing board 4 and pulled out of the playing board 4. The pins 18,20 have shanks 76 and the shanks 76 should have a length such that, when they are fully pushed into the playing board 4, the pointed ends of the shanks penetrate to the depth of from more than 2 and less than 3 of the lamination layers. The strip 40 is connected to the nega tive terminal of the power source via the light emitting diode 78, and the strip 56 is connected to the positive terminal of the power source via the light emitting diode 80.The coordinate lamps 23,24 are thus illuminated since an electrical circuit is completed consisting of the light emitting diodes 78,80 in series with the pcwer source which is shown as a battery 82. Addition of further pins 18,20 on either side of the playing board 4 within the grid square 32 concerned, will not affect the situation as far as the electronics are concerned.

Figure 12 illustrates what happens within the playing board 4 when pins 18,20 are opposing within two grid squares which are adjacent along a row of the playing board 4.

One lamp 84 will be illuminated along the side edge of the playing board 4, and two lamps 86 will be illuminated along the top edge of the playing board 4. It will thus be noted that the electrical circuit now consists of the lamp 84 in series with the parallel connection of the lamps 86, thus resulting in the lamps 86 being dimmer than the lamp 84. However, if light emitting diodes are used, the effect can be tolerated, even when all ten lamps along one edge and only one lamp along the other edge of the playing board 4 are illuminated.

In a modified arrangement of the playing board 4, the playing board 4 may be constructed such that the second lamination layer 42 (which has the electrically conducting squares 48 adhered to it) is removable and can thus be replaced by another specially made second lamination layer. The specially made second lamination layer could be designed to have the effect of preventing pins 18,20 causing coordinate lamps to illuminate when opposing within certain defined areas of grid squares or within entire grid squares. The specially made laminate layer will thus introduce an element of uncertainty into games played with the apparatus 2. More specifically, the specially made second lamination layer can be made to prevent contacts being indicated by the lamps over any mapping area that may be desired.Referring to Figure 13, this can be used to simulate cloud cover in a war game and thus enable a pin 18,20 following the correct path to evade detection. Fins can make contact at points 88,80,82 and 84, but not at points 96,98,100 and 102.

Figure 14 shows how the second lamination layer 42 must be modified in order to simulate the cloud cover shape shown in Figure 13.

The areas of electrically conducting sheeting squares 48 are removed within. the entire area of the cloud cover 104.

The power source for the apparatus 2 in its simplest form is a 8 volt dry battery 82. Figure 15 shows the circuit diagram of a suitable alternative power source for the apparatus 2 which can also give an audible indication of when pins 18,20 are making contact, that is when any of the lamps 30 are illuminated.

In Figure 15, there is shown an integrated circuit operational amplifier 106. The amplifier 106, in association with the resistors 108, 110 and 112 and the capacitor 114 act as an astable multivibrator. The value of the resistors 108, 110, 112 and the capacitor 114 are preferably chosen such that the frequency of oscillation is approximately 2 Hz. A transistor 116 provides current gain and supplies the pulses of current to the lamps 30.

Also shown in Figure 15 are mechanical switches 118 120,122,126 and 128 which are operated by the players. The switches joined by broken lines operate together and hence a double-pole-double-throw-switch is conveniently used for each of the switch pairs 118,120 and 122, 126. The switch 118, 120 acts as an on/off switch for the entire circuit, the light emitting diode 130 acting as an on/off indicator.

With the switch 122,126 thrown to the position shown in Figure 15, the playing board 4 can receive a steady DC current. The lamps 30 are therefore illuminated continuously, assuming that pins 18,20 are appropriately opposing.

With the switch 122,126 thrown to the position shown by the broken line in Figure 15, the playing board 4 can receive current in the form of a square wave, whose mark space ratio is unity, of the chosen frequency of the astable multivibrator. The lamps 30 are therefore seen to flash continuously, assuming that the pins 18,20 are appropriately opposing.

With the switch 128 thrown to the position shown by the broken line in Figure 15, an electronic buzzer 132 will sound whenever the lamps 30 receive current. It should be noted that the buzzer 132 does not appear directly across the Zener diode 134 but is fed by the second emitter -follower connected transistor 136. The transistor 136 is used to ensure that the Zener diode 134 is not excessively deprived of current, which could prevent it from maintaining the specified Zener voltage.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, although the apparatus 2 has been described to some extent as of use for playing a war game with geographical maps as shown in Figure 1, it is to be appreciated that various other games as may be desired can be played using the apparatus 2, it only being necessary to provide appropriate playing board designs which can either be on paper, a plastics material or other appropriate material to be attached to the playing board 4, or which can be directly provided on the playing board 4.

Thus, for example, the games that are played may be chase games, hunt games, commercial conflict games or adventure games. Also se parate sets of enlarged diameter pins or sepa rate playing boards can be provided to- ater for pin holes in the playing board 4 becoming too large. The pins may be of various shapes or forms to represent different unit playing pieces. The pins preferably each have a stop portion 75 (see Figure 11) for stopping them from being inserted so far into the playing board 4 that they cannot easily be removed.

The "cloud cover" shown in Figures 13 and 14 may be some other type of cover.

Claims (23)

1. Apparatus for playing a game, which apparatus comprises a playing board which is adapted to be secured in an upstanding position so that a first face of the playing board is visible to a first player but not to a second player and so that a second face of the playing board is visible to the second player but not to the first player, a first set of playing pieces for the first player, and a second set of playing pieces for the second player, the playing pieces being pointed so that they can be stuck into the faces of the playing board, the playing board being made of a material into which the playing pieces can be stuck so that the playing board is not provided with predetermined holes for receiving the playing pieces, and the playing board being provided with an electrical circuit that operates indicator means when there is electrical contact between a playing piece of the first player which has been inserted in the first face of the playing board and a playing piece of the second player which has been inserted in the second face of the playing board.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the upstanding position of the playing board is vertical.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the playing board slots into a base in order to enable the board to be secured in its upstanding position.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the electrical circuit is inside the playing board.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the playing board is a laminated playing board with electrical circuits sandwiched between layers of the playing board.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the playing board is a laminated playing board which is composed of four layers of material, the first and second layers sandwiching between them thin strips of electrically conducting material which are spaced apart in columns, the second and third layers sandwiching between them squares of electrical conducting sheet material, and the third and fourth layers sandwiching between them thin strips of electrically conducting material which are arranged in spaced apart rows, the laminated playing board then having a grid of electrically conducting squares through which the indicating means are activated when playing pieces from both players are in the same playing square.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which there are ten thin strips of the electrically conducting material arranged in the spaced apart columns, one hundred of the squares of electrically conducting sheet material, and ten strips of the electrically conducting material arranged in the spaced apart rows.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the indicator means is constituted by a plurality of indicator lamps.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the indicator lamps are arranged in two sets, one set of the indicator lamps being positioned along the top of the playing board for indicating a column in which player contact has been made, and the other set of the indicator lamps being positioned along one side of the playing board for indicating a row in which player contact has been made.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the playing board includes non-conductive material for preventing player contact in certain areas.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the playing board includes an integrally formed playing board design in the form of an orthogonal grid mapping a predetermined pattern of the electrically conducting areas in the playing board.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the playing board is provided with a playing board design provided on separate sheets of material which are then secured to the playing board.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12 in which the playing board design on the second face of the playing board is a mirror image of the playing board design on the first face of the playing board, so that both players play with the same playing board design.

14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the playing board is provided with a grid having columns and rows which bear alpha-numeric references.

15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and the second sets of playing pieces are pins.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the pins have knobs at one end for enabling them easily to be inserted into and removed from the playing board.

17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and which is battery and/or mains operated.

18. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the playing board is a laminated playing board with the various laminations being substantially the same thickness, and in which the playing pieces are so constructed that their parts which are to be inserted into the playing board are longer than half the thickness of the playing board.

19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a storage box which forms a base for the playing board when the playing board is to be secured in its upstanding position.

20. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including storage means for storing those playing pieces not in use.

21. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9 and including an electronic device which is not only capable of supplying a steady DC current to the playing board but which is also able to cause the indicator means in the form of the lamps to flash continuously at a low frequency.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 in which the electronic device comprises an astable multivibrator, utilising an integrated circuit operational amplifier, followed by an emitter-follower connected transistor which supplies current to the playing board.

23. Apparatus for playing a game, substan tially- as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.