GB2234181A

GB2234181A - Board game

Info

Publication number: GB2234181A
Application number: GB9004851A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Howard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-03-03
Filing date: 1990-03-05
Publication date: 1991-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-05
Also published as: GB2234181B; GB9004851D0

Abstract

A board game which simulates the operation of a stock exchange comprises a board having a path marked thereon, the path being divided into different zones which are associated with different eventualities, as determined by the rules of the game. Movement is determined by the throw of dice and players are identified by tokens. Instruction cards called bull cards and bear cards are further provided and the instructions on these cards must be followed by players landing on zones that are associated with these cards. The objective of the game is to buy and sell shares having landed on zones permitting this and thereby to accumulate as much "money" as possible. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR A BOARD GAME THIS INVENTION relates to a board game. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for playing a board game.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for playing a board game, which includes a board comprising a planar sheet element having marked thereon a continuous path divided into a plurality of demarcated zones, a number of predetermined zones, identified as share zones, being associated with types of shares; other zones, identified as bear zones and bull zones, being associated with cards that provide for specific playing eventualities and instructions as determined by the rules of the game; and other zones, identified as share price index zones, being associated with share price variations in accordance with the rules of the game; a set of tokens for identifying players of the game; at least one die that can be used to determine the movement of players along the path marked on the board; a set of bull cards and a set of bear cards that have printed thereon details of playing eventualities and playing instructions that must be followed in accordance with the rules of the game; a set of share price index cards that determine the share values of different shares at different times during playing of the game; and a set of money tokens that can change hands between players for buying and selling shares and for other eventualities as determined by the rules of the game.

The sheet element may be of any suitable material such as of paper, cardboard, a synthetic plastics material, or the like, and may have marked thereon a space for the set of bull cards, a space for the set of bear cards and a space for the set of share price index cards.

Still further, the sheet element forming the board may be a square element having a hexagonal path marked thereon, a share price index zone being defined at each corner of the path, one segment of the path between two corners including a starting zone, from which play of the game can commence, and four share zones, the opposite segment of the path including a zone identified as a visitor's zone and four share zones and all the other segments of the path including one bear zone, one bull zone and four share zones.

The share zones may include zones associated with six different types of shares, each type of share being represented by four different share zones and each share zone being marked to identify the number of shares of the type that can be purchased or otherwise traded in, in accordance with the rules of the game, when a player lands on the particular zone during play of the game.

Furthermore, the apparatus may include a set of share certificate cards for each different type of shares, each card representing a predetermined number of shares. The total number of share certificate cards thus determines the total number of shares of each type that are available for sale.

Typically, the apparatus includes eight tokens for identifying players, each token being identifiable by a different colour.

Also, the apparatus may include two dice.

The money tokens may represent six different denominations, the denominations being 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10000.

Further according to the invention, there is provided a board for a board game which includes all the features of the board forming a part of the apparatus for playing a board game, in accordance with the present invention.

Further features of the apparatus for playing a board game, in accordance with the invention, are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a board for a board game, forming a part of the apparatus for playing a board game, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a typical bear card, forming a part of the apparatus for playing a board game, in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 illustrates a typical bull card, forming a part of the apparatus for playing a board game, in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 shows a typical share certificate, forming a part of the apparatus for playing a board game, in accordance with the invention;; Figure 5 illustrates a typical share price index card, forming a part of the apparatus for playing a board game, in accordance with the invention; and Figure 6 illustrates six different denomination money tokens, forming a part of the apparatus for playing a board game, in accordance with the invention.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the drawings, a board for a board game forming a part of the apparatus for playing a board game, in accordance with the invention, is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The board 10 comprises a square sheet element of cardboard, a synthetic plastics material, timber, or the like, the sheet element having a continuous hexagonal path 12 marked thereon, the path thus being divided into six equal length path segments. The path 12 is divided into a plurality of demarcated zones, the zone 14 at each corner of the hexagonal path representing a different stock exchange and being identified as a share price index zone, the purpose of which is described in more detail hereafter.

Furthermore, one segment of the path 12 defines a starting zone 16 and four share zones 18, whereas the opposite segment of the path 12 defines a visitor's zone 20 together with four further share zones 18. The remaining segments of the hexagonal path 12 all define four share zones 18, one bear zone 22 and one bull zone 24.

The share zones 18 represent six different types of shares, the zones marked "G" representing gold shares, the zones marked "D" representing diamond shares, the zones marked "0" representing oil shares, the zones marked "CA" representing car shares, the zones marked "S" representing shipping shares and the zones marked "C" representing coal shares. Each share zone 18 further has either the number 5000 or the number 10000 associated therewith (see zones 18.1 and 18.2 respectively), this number representing the number of shares that will be for sale when a particular player lands on the particular zone during play of the game and in accordance with the rules of the game. This is explained in more detail hereafter.

The share price index zones 14 are associated with a set of share price index cards, one typical share price index card 30 being illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. Each share price index card provides an indication of particular share values that apply at any particular time during play of the game, the share price index cards being positioned upon the space 32 marked on the board 10 with the top card always representing "current" share values. During play of the game, the top card will be changed by being placed at the bottom of the set of cards, each time a player lands on a share price index zone 14.

The bear zones 22 and the bull zones 24 are associated with a set of bear cards and a set of bull cards respectively, one particular bear card 40 being illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings and one particular bull card 42 being illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. During play of the game, the set of bear cards will be placed on the space 44 marked on the board 10, whereas the set of bull cards will be placed on the space 46 also marked on the board 10. The bear cards and bull cards provide for different playing eventualities and provide different playing instructions that must be followed by a player during play of the game when he lands on either a bear zone 22 or a bull zone 24. A player has to pick up a bear card when he lands on a zone 22 and a bull card when he lands on a zone 24 and must then follow the instructions as provided on the card picked up. Once instructions have been followed the particular card will be placed at the bottom of the set of cards, positioned on the space provided for them.

The apparatus for playing the board game includes further six sets of share certificates, each set of share certificates being associated with one particular type of shares and each share certificate representing, for example, 5000 shares. Figure 4 illustrates a typical share certificate 50 which represents 5000 oil shares and which will be passed to a player purchasing these shares from a banker or from another player, during play of the game and in accordance with the rules of the game.

Further, the apparatus includes a set of money tokens, Figure 6 illustrating six different denomination money tokens that can typically be used for playing the game in accordance with the rules of the game. Tokens for identifying players are also provided, the specific configuration of the tokens being variable, different tokens typically being identifiable by different colours. Two dice (not shown) of a conventional kind are also provided, the dice serving to determine the progress a player will make upon his turn around the path 12 when the player will have to throw the two dice and progress by the number of zones equal to the sum of the two numbers thrown by the dice.

The object of playing the game is to maximise one's money, both directly in the form of money tokens and indirectly in the form of shares. A game can thus be won by the player who has the most money after a particular time period for playing the game, or the player who has all the money when all remaining players are "bankrupt". Play of the game is commenced in a conventional manner with players starting from the start zone 16 in an order that may be determined by the throw of the dice. It is determined by the rules that each time a player lands on a particular share zone he is permitted to purchase the particular type of shares, the total number of shares that can be purchased being determined by the number associated with the share zone.

If a player decides not to purchase any such shares or the total number of shares, the shares will go on auction and remaining players can then bid for the shares if they wish to purchase these. In between players turns, players may also trade in shares amongst themselves, all shares initially being held by a banker which will be one of the players of the game.

The value of the different type of shares at any particular time during play of a game will always be determined by the uppermost share price index card positioned on the space 32, this share price index card being changed each time a player lands on a zone 14.

When a player lands on a bear zone 22 or a bull zone 24 he will have to pick up a card associated with the particular zone he has landed upon and follow the instructions on the particular card.

It will be appreciated that players will have to continuously keep a watch on share values with a view to selling shares at high values and purchasing shares at relatively low values, in this way increasing one's money power. The bull cards and bear cards will always relate to specific eventualities that can occur and that can change a player's fortunes, thus requiring a player to keep in mind that it may be possible that upon his next turn he will have to pick up one of these cards and negotiate the instructions thereon.

When a player lands on the visitors zone 20 he will be totally excluded from any auctions or share negotiations until his next turn arrives when he will be entitled to progress from this zone.

The rules of the game also provide for a player to have an extra turn when a double is thrown, or when he lands on the start zone 16, the specific rules of the game being variable and not being described in any further detail herein.

Clearly, the game is designed to simulate the operation of the share market and it is believed that the game will fullfil an educational function insofar as it will familiarize players with concepts and dealings associated with the share market.

The apparatus for playing the game also may include a set of suitably printed rules and a box or other container within which the remainder of the apparatus can be stored.

Claims

1. Apparatus for playing a board game, which includes a board comprising a planar sheet element having marked thereon a continuous path divided into a plurality of demarcated zones, a number of predetermined zones, identified as share zones, being associated with types of shares; other zones, identified as bear zones and bull zones, being associated with cards that provide for specific playing eventualities and instructions as determined by the rules of the game; and other zones, identified as share price index zones, being associated with share price variations in accordance with the rules of the game; a set of tokens for identifying players of the game; at least one die that can be used to determine the movement of players along the path marked on the board; a set of bull cards and a set of bear cards that have printed thereon details of playing eventualities and playing instructions that must be followed in accordance with the rules of the game; a set of share price index cards that determine the share values of different shares at different times during playing of the game; and a set of money tokens that can change hands between players for buying and selling shares and for other eventualities as determined by the rules of the game.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the sheet element has marked thereon a space for the set of bull cards, a space for the set of bear cards and a space for the set of share price index cards.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the sheet element forming the board has a hexagonal path marked thereon, a share price index zone being defined at each corner of the path, one segment of the path between two corners including a starting zone, from which play of the game can commence, and four share zones, the opposite segment of the path including a zone identified as a visitor's zone and four share zones and all the other segments of the path including one bear zone, one bull zone and four share zones.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which the share zones include zones associated with six different types of shares, each type of shares being represented by four different share zones and each share zone being marked to identify the number of shares of the type that can be purchased or otherwise traded in, in accordance with the rules of the game, when a player lands on the particular zone during play of the game.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, which includes a set of share certificate cards for each different type of shares, each card representing a predetermined number of shares.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes eight tokens for identifying players, each token being identifiable by a different colour.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes two dice.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes money tokens representing six different denominations, the denominations being 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10000.

9. Apparatus for playing a board game substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A board for a board game which comprises a planar sheet element having marked thereon a continuous path divided into a plurality of demarcated zones, a number of predetermined zones, identified as share zones, being associated with types of shares; other zones, identified as bear zones and bull zones, being associated with cards that provides for specific playing eventualities and instructions as determined by the rules of the game; and other zones, identified as share price index zones, being associated with share price variations in accordance with the rules of the game.

11. A board as claimed in Claim 10, in which the sheet element has marked thereon spaces for different sets of cards associated with playing of the game and upon which the sets of cards can be placed during play of the game.

12. A board as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, in which the sheet element forming the board has a hexagonal path marked thereon, a share price index zone being defined at each corner of the path, one segment of the path between two corners including a starting zone, from which play of the game can commence, and four share zones, the opposite segment of the path including a zone identified as a visitor's zone and four share zones and all the other segments of the path including one bear zone, one bull zone and four share zones.

13. A board as claimed in Claim 12, in which the share zones include zones associated with six different types of shares, each type of shares being represented by four different share zones and each share zone being marked to identify the number of shares of the type that can be purchased or otherwise traded with in accordance with the rules of the game when a player lands on a particular zone during play of the game.

14. A board for a board game substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.