GB2199758A - Road freight board game - Google Patents

Abstract

A game board presents a playing area which includes two endless pathways divided into sections along which the players move respective play elements representing trucks. The outer pathway represents a motorway whilst the inner represents a road and is divided into two lanes. The number of sections moved by each player is determined by throw of a dice. Some of the sections are designated load values which the players collect from a supply of load elements. The two pathways are linked at intervals by crossover points, e.g. chevrons or islands, at which a player may move from one pathway to the other. A random direction selector (e.g. a spinner) determines the direction in which a player leaves the island. <P>Some of the sections are marked "fortune card", "weather report" and "MOT" and any player who lands on that particular section is required to select the appropriate chance card at random and obey its instruction. There are also squares marked "cash in load" and "cash or load" where a player can exchange his accumulated load values for money from a bank. A player can use the money to purchase property sites and services in order to extract a fee from other players who land upon the appropriate sections. <IMAGE>

Description

GAME This invention relates to a game which is intended to closely simulate the activities of commercial truck operators.

THE APPARATUS The Apparatus comprises the following: 1. A board, screen or other article presenting a playing area which includes at least two endless pathways, one of the pathways representing a motorway and the other representing a road, each pathway being divided into a series of sections along its length, and the two pathways being linked at intervals by crossover points at which a player may move from one pathway to the other, the pathways including loading sections which are each designated a particular load value.

A preferred layout for the playing area is shown in the accompanying drawing. The area is rectangular and has two adjoining endless pathways running around its periphery. The outermost pathway represents a motorway and is sub-divided into a series of thiry eight square sections. The inner pathway represents an A road and is sub-divided into a series of thirty square sections.

The inner pathway is further sub-divided lengthwise into two lanes.

Chevrons (arrows) cross from the outer to the inner pathway and vice versa representing crossover points where a player may pass from one pathway to the other in the direction indicated by the chevrons.

Furthermore, twn opposite corner squares of the inner pathway contain circles representing traffic islands where a player can change direction on the inner pathway or again cross onto the motorway (see below).

The loading sections are represented by the squares that carry numbers in circles. These numbers represent tonnage values for collection by any player who lands on that particular square.

Other squares are marked "fortune card", "weather report" and "MOT". These represent fortune squares at which a player who lands on that particular square is required to obey an instruction which is selected at ramdom from a bank of instructions carried on cards for example (see below).

There are also squares marked "cash in load" and "cash or load" (see below).

2. A plurality of mutually distinct play elements each for allocation to an individual player, each play element representing a truck and being moveable along the pathways section-by-section.

The elements may be shaped to represent a truck in two or three dimensions. Alternatively they may be embossed or printed with a representation of a truck.

The elements may be designated different maximum tonnage values, e.g. ten, twenty and thirty tons, with which the "truck" can be loaded.

3. Random number selection means, e.g. a dice, for determining the number of sections by which a play element can be moved along the pathways upon each move.

4. The apparatus may include a plurality of load elements, e.g. counters, each designated a particular tonnage or other load value for collection by a player when he lands on a loading section. These preferably, but not necessarily, correspond to the tonnages marked on the board.

5. The Apparatus may also include a bank of instructions'for use by players who land on the fortune sections. There may for example be three sets of cards carrying the following instructions: MOT Cards (based on traffic regulations) 1. Insecure load, FINED 100.

2. Weight restriction ahead, change road type.

3. Weight bridge FULL, drive on, even if overladen.

4. Loaded for Government, free pass. If not used KEEP for two trips.

5. Tyre check, FINED 200.

6. Road Tax, pay 1,000 per truck, payable over two trips.

Fortune Cards (based on road hazards) 1. Road repairs, change road type.

2. Tyre blow out, miss one throw.

3. CB radio alert, accident, bypass this. Add four to throw.

4. Government Gold 100% on load, advance to Cash in Point.

5. Miss gears on hill. Reduce throw by six.

6. Bad debts, pay up and collect 2,000 from Finance House.

Weather Condition Cards 1. Snow, slow down, reduce throw by six.

2. Fog, slow down, reduce throw by six.

3. High tail wind, add six to throw.

4. Clear roads ahead, foot down, add five.

5. Very cold, derv waxing. Reduce throw by four.

6. Flood ahead, take short cut, Add four.

6. The apparatus may further include property sites, e.g. a "truck stop" site, for association with a section of the pathways and which can be purchased by a player for a predetermined price, each site being allocated a predetermined visit fee which must be paid to the site owner by any player who lands on the associated section. Thse sites may for example be flat pieces of card.

There may also be services for placement on the sites, which can be purchased by the owner of the site to increase the value of the associated visit fee. Thses could be two dimensional representations of buildings and other structures, or preferably three dimensional models.

An example of a property site and various associated services, together with their purchase' price and the visit fees which they command, are as follows: Property Purchase price Visit fee TRUCK STOP 3000 to 100 5,000 SERVICES Truck wash 500 50 - 100 per truck Accommodation 500 50 - 100 per truck Truck Garage 1,000 100 per truck Truck food shop 1,000 50 per truck Truck warehouse 5,000 25 per ton 7. The apparatus may include random direction selector means for determining the direction in which a player travels along the pathways from the island.

This may comprise a flat symmetrical body, e.g. of circular, triangular or hexagonal shape, bearing different direction instructions around its periphery and having stem portions extending above and below the body from its centre. The body part may be as depicted on the island squares shown in the drawing. In this instance M means motorway, R means return on A road, and A means continue on A road.

8. The apparatus preferably includes a supply of money, e.g. chips, blocks or bank notes in values of say 25, 50, 100 and 1,000.

The game may be played using physical apparatus or it may be played on a computer with the various parts of the apparatus being represented on a screen.

OBJECT OF THE GAME The object is for a player to accumulate as much wealth as possible. By purchasing property the player can extract payments from the other players in an attempt to bankrupt them and thus cause them to exit from the game.

THE PLAY Each player is allocated one ten ton truck and 3,000 in cash.

Players commence at the START square on the motorway.

They travel clockwise on the motorway and the outer lane of the A road and anticlockwise on the inner lane.

The players each throw the dice in turn and move their truck by the number of squares thrown. When a player lands on a square associated with a tonnage sign he picks up a corresponding tonnage element. A player may overload his truck above its designated weight but if the player lands on an MOT square he will have to pay a 1,000 fine.

Any player who lands on an MOT square must also select an MOT card at random and follow its ruling. A player who lands on a Fortune or Weather square must also pick up the appropriate card and follow its ruling.

When a player lands on a "cash in load" square he can exchange his accumulated tonnage for money at 100 per ton. On "cash or load" squares tonnage can either be exchanged for money or the designated tonnage for that square can be collected, at the option of the player.

A player may upgrade or buy a new truck after one complete trip around the board, or by throwing a six.

Trucks are upgraded in ten ton stages, the cost of each upgrade being 500. A player may run up to three trucks at a time if funds permit. A 20 ton truck costs 2,000 and a 30 ton truck costs 3,000.

Players must also follow the chevrons. If a player lands on an island he must spin the direction selector to determine his direction of travel from that point on.

When a player has sufficient funds he can purchase a truck stop and place it on any free square. He can then purchase other services to place on the truck stop. Any other player who lands on his truck stop must pay the owner the appropriate visit fee. A player -must have purchased two other services before purchasing a truck warehouse.

If a player has cash flow problems he may take a loan from the Finance House of up to half his truck and property value. This must be repaid in full plus interest at 50% after three trips around the board.

When a player loads his truck to or above its permitted tonnage he may choose to "Go Long Distance". Ta do this he must proceed from the square on which he became fully laden and complete a full trip around the board, paying full dues along the way. For each complete trip he may increase his tonnage value by 100% up to a maximum of three trips per load.

The Finance House is operated by a player for which he is paid a fee from the Finance House of 500 to 2,000, as agreed beforehand by the players.

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus for playing a game simulating the activities of commercial truck operators, comprising: - a board, screen Or other article presenting a playing area which includes at least two endless pathways, one of the pathways representing a motorway and the other representing a road, each pathway being divided into a series of sections along its length, and the two pathways being linked at intervals by crossover points at which a player may move from one pathway to the other, the pathways including loading sections which are each designated a particular load value, - a plurality of mutually distinct play elements each for allocation to an individual player, each play element representing a truck and being moveable along the pathway section-by-section, and - random number selection means for determining the number of sections by which a play element can be moved along the pathways upon each move, the game being such that the play elements are progressively moved around the pathways and when a player lands upon a particular loading section he collects the load value allocated thereto.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the crossover points comprise chevrons indicating the direction in which the player may pass from one pathway to the other.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the crossover points represent traffic islands at which a player is also allowed to change his direction of travel along the pathway representing the road.

4. Apparatus acording to Claim 3, in which the pathway representing the road is divided along its length into lanes.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, including random direction selector means for determining the direction in which a player travels along the pathways from the island.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the random direction selector means comprises a flat symmetrical body bearing different direction instructions around its periphery and having stem portions extending above and below the body from its centre.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the play area is rectangular and has two adjoining endless pathways running side-by-side around its periphery.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, in which the outermost pathway represents the motorway and the inner pathway represents the road.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the sections include fortune sections at which a player who lands on that particular section is required to obey an instruction which is selected at ramdom from a bank of instructions.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, in which the said bank of instructions includes a set based on traffic regulations.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, in which the said bank df instructions includes a set based on road hazards.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 9, 10 or 11, in which the said bank of instructions includes a set based on weather conditions.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim including a money supply.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, in which the pathways include a section on which a player can exchange his accumulated load values for money.

15. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a plurality of load elements each designated a particular load value for collection by a player when he lands on a loading section.

16. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including property sites for association with a section of the pathways and which can be purchased by a player for a predetermined price, each site being allocated a predetermined visit fee which must be paid to the site owner by any player who lands on the associated section.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, including services for placement on the sites, which can be purchased by the owner of the site to increase the value of the associated visit fee.

18. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the play area is substantially as described with reference to the drawing.