GB2197211A

GB2197211A - Dole play

Info

Publication number: GB2197211A
Application number: GB08625534A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Thomas; Graham Hardie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-24
Filing date: 1986-10-24
Publication date: 1988-05-18
Also published as: GB8625534D0

Abstract

An apparatus for playing a game simulating unemployment situations has a playing surface having a playing track situated along the edge of the surface and comprising a plurality of spaces. Some of the spaces have instructions associated with unemployment situations marked thereon, and some of these spaces are subject to "admit", "deny" or "appeal" situations. Other spaces have penalty instructions or movement instructions thereon, and yet other spaces are "pot luck" or change spaces. The apparatus also includes a plurality of "pot luck" cards "deny" cards, "admit" cards and "appeal" cards, each on an associated area on the playing surface, a plurality of playing pieces. a dice and a supply of imitation money. The winner of the game is the person of has amassed a set amount of money when he or she reaches the "finish" square. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for playing a game The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing a game simulating unemployment situations and is primarily intended to be in the form of a board game although same may equally well be represented in other forms, e.g. a computer game.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for playing a game simulating unemployment situations comprising a playing surface having a playing track comprising a plurality of spaces; a number of said spaces having instructions associated with unemployment situations marked thereon; a plurality of playing pieces; and a random number selection means.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for playing a game simulating unemployment situations, comprising: (a) a playing surface having a playing track comprising a plurality of spaces; (b) a number of said spaces having instructions associated with unemployment situations marked thereon, certain of such spaces being subject to "admit", "deny" or "appeal" situations; (c) other spaces having penalty instructions or movement instructions thereon; (d) a number of "pot-luck" or chance spaces; (e) said playing surface also having areas thereon marked "pot-luck", "deny", "admit" and ' "appeal"; (f) a plurality of "pot-luck" cards, "deny" cards, "admit" cards and "appeal" cards; (g) a plurality of playing pieces; (h) random number selection means; and (i) a supply of imitation money.

The playing surface is preferably in the form of a game board, although any other suitable form of playing surface may be utilised.

The playing surface is preferably rectangular in shape, although such surface could be circular if desired. The playing track is preferably provided in an outer or circumferential region of the playing surface.

The areas of said surface marked "pot -luck", "deny", "admit" and "appeal" will preferably be located within the area defined by the playing track. Each such area will have a pack of cards associated therewith. Each of the cards of the pack of "pot-luck" cards can carry information which can act for or against a player. For example, such information may contain monetary benefit or loss to a player, forward or backward movement of a playing piece, or can cause a player to miss a turn.

Certain of the spaces having instructions as sociated with unemployment situations marked thereon can be subject to "admit", "deny", or "appeal" situations. The information in each of the cards forming the pack of "deny" cards can find for or against the player. A similar situation arises in respect of each of the cards forming the "admit" pack of cards.

If a player wishes to appeal against any information contained on a "deny" or "admit" card he can appeal1 where applicable. Each of the "appeal" cards forming the pack of "appeal" cards can either find for or against the player.

Whilst reference has been made to cards, for clarity and simplicity, it is to be understood that such should not be considered restricted to cards.

-A playing piece will be provided for each player and is movable along the playing track for as many spaces as may be indicated by the random number selection means which may be a numbered dice or other known means. A supply of imitation money is provided suitably in units from 1 to 1,000.

The playing track may also include one or more "one way street-no parking" spaces.

If a player lands on such space, then he has to proceed along a subsidiary track of marked spaces until he returns to the main playing track. During movement along such subsidiary track, the player can be subject to monetary penalties if his playing piece falls on one or more particular spaces during travel over such subsidiary track.

The invention will be further illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a plan view of the playing surface of a game board.

The apparatus for playing a game includes a board having a playing surface and is intended for use by from two to six players.

Around the periphery of the board is a playing track which is divided into a plurality of spaces having various instructions marked thereon.

Inwardly of the playing track are four areas marked "pot-luck", "deny", "admit" and "appeal". Packs of cards corresponding thereto are provided on such areas.

As illustrated, there are two "one-way street-no parking" spaces and if a player's playing piece lands thereon, then the playing piece must follow the arrow and pay any fine which may be incurred.

Each player moves around the board utilising a random number selection means, usually a dice. Each space contains instructions which must be followed as the player proceeds around the board.

The ensuing description provides an indication of how the game is played.

The object of the game is to be the first player to amass 2,000 or more upon reach ing the "finish" square. If a player does not such an amount then they must continue around the board until they so do.

Each player is supplied with an initial amount of 500. If any player is unfortunate enough to lose all of his or her money, then they can obtain one loan only of 500. Such loan must be repaid before a player can be declared a winner. If such player loses all their money after taking out a loan, then he or she is knocked out of the game.

In order to win the game, the correct number must be shown on the dice to permit the playing piece to land on the "finish" square. If the number is in excess of the amount needed, then on reaching the "finish" square, the playing piece has to go backwards the remaining number of spaces.

Movement of each player commences with their playing pieces located on the "start" square. Movement around the board is effected by throwing a dice. Wherever the playing piece lands, the instructions contained on the particular space must be obeyed. As illustrated, the information on such squares can either be for or against each player. If a player lends on a "pot-luck" square then a pot-luck card is selected and the instructions contained thereon must be followed. In the case of a space having "admit-deny" appearing thereon, the player can select to either admit or deny the offence alleged. If the instructions appearing on the selected "admit" or "deny" are not in the player's favour, he or she can take an "appeal" card, where applicable. However, the instructions appearing on such appeal card must be obeyed.

It is also possible that certain spaces may instruct that a particular payment should be made. In certain circumstances, an appeal card may be selected to challenge such instructions.

If a playing piece lands on a square having the instructions "one-way street-no parking" appearing thereon, then the subsidiary track must be utilised and each time the piece lands on a space having a parking fine marked thereon, then such fine must be paid.

It can thus be seen that each player in turn moves round the playing board and obeys the instructions given on the space on which his or her piece lands. In order to win the game, a player must have amassed 2,000 or more when they reach the "finish" square. Moreover, the game can only be won by throwing the correct number with the dice to land on such "finish" square.

If a player lands on the "finish" square but does not have the required 2,000 or more, then he or she must again go round the board. Whilst in the illustrated embodiment various types of instructions are supplied, it is to be understood that other types of instructions, again associated with unemployment situations, may be inserted.

As previously mentioned, it is also anticipated that the present invention could be utilised in the form of a computer game. In such case, the playing surface would become an area on the screen and the cards would be in the form of graphic illustrations.

Claims

1. Apparatus for playing a game simulating unemployment situations, the apparatus comprising a playing surface having a playing track comprising a plurality of spaces; a number of said spaces having instructions associated with unemployment situations marked thereon; a plurality of playing pieces; and a random number selection means.

2. Apparatus for playing a game simulating unemployment situations, the apparatus comprising: (a) a playing surface having a playing track comprising a plurality of spaces; (b) a number of said spaces having instructions associated with unemployment situations marked thereon, certain of such spaces being subject to "admit", "deny" or "appeal" situations; (c) other spaces having penalty instructions or movement instructions thereon; (d) a number of "pot-luck" or chance spaces; (e) said playing surface also having areas thereon marked "pot-luck", "deny", "admit" and "appeal"; (f) a plurality of "pot-luck" cards, "deny" cards, "admit" cards and "appeal" cards; (g) a plurality of playing pieces; (h) random number selection means; and (i) a supply of imitation money.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the areas of the surface marked "pot luck", "deny", "admit" and "appeal" are located within the area defined by the playing track.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each "pot-luck", "deny", "admit" and "appeal" has a pack of cards associated therewith.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the cards of the pack of "pot-luck" cards carries information which can act for or against a player.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the spaces having instructions associated with unemployment situations marked thereon are subject to "admit", "deny" or "appeal" situations.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the information in each of the cards forming the pack of "deny" cards and/or the "admit" can find for or against the player.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the playing surface is in the form of a game board.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the playing surface is rectangular in shape.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the surface is circular.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the playing track is provided in an outer or circumferential region of the playing surface.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the playing track also includes one or more "one-way street- no parking" spaces, wherein if a player lands on such a space then he has to proceed along a subsidiary track of marked spaces until he returns to the main playing track.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein during movement along such a subsidiary track, a player can be subjected to penalties if his playing piece falls on one or more particular spaces during travel along such a subsidiary track.

14. Apparatus for playing a game simulating unemployment situations, substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.