GB2272838A - Travel game - Google Patents

Abstract

Game apparatus comprises a board laid out to a plurality of parallel endless segmented tracks, players markers, means to allocate each marker to a track at the outset of the game, and a random number generator. The apparatus may comprise one or more packs of instruction cards which are to be consulted and obeyed as a result of markers landing on a suitably marked segment. The apparatus may also include play money. <IMAGE>

Description

A Game This invention concerns a game to be played by two or more persons.

According to the invention there is provided a game comprising a plurality of playing pieces each distinguishable from the the others, means defining a plurality of playing circuits each partitioned into a plurality of sections, each circuit representing a journey travelled by means of a different method of transport and at least selected ones of the sections requiring that a player whose playing piece lands thereon should comply with instructions prescribed by rules thereby gaining or losing credit, means for determining which circuit each player must use at the commencement of the game, and means for determining the movement of the playing pieces around the circuits.

Preferably further selected ones of the sections are marked to designate geographical locations reached during the journey.

The game preferably also comprises at least sne pack of instruction cards, the rules stipulating that a player whose playing piece lands on one of the selected sections is required to comply with the instructions on the next available card of the pack. Respective ones of the selected sections may be marked in different ways to correspond to packs of different kinds of instruction cards.

Preferably one pack of the instruction cards is designed for use at the commencement of the game to determine which method of transport, and thus which circuit, each player should use. These cards may also indicate further obligations which the player will have throughout the game.

Preferably the movement of the playing pieces is determined by spinning a model globe, the number of sections to be moved by the playing piece being derived from the longitude value shown on the globe adjacent to a suitable indicator. The globe may also be spun at the commencement of the game to determine the number of circuits which each player must complete.

An example of the invention will now be described for purposes of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure illustrates a board for use in playing the game.

There is shown a board having a surface defining a playing area 10. Marked on the area 10 are three adjacent circuits 12,14,16. Each circuit is partitioned into a number of separate sections 18. The circuits 12, 14 and 16 are designated "planes", "boats" and "trains" respectively. Selected ones of the sections 18 of each circuit are marked with coloured spots 20 for a purpose which will be described hereinafter. Further selected adjacent sections 18a of the circuits 12,14,16 are marked with geographical place names. The part of the playing area 10 surrounded by the circuits 12,14,16 is decorated with a world map 22, the names marked on the sections 18a corresponding to places on adjacent areas of the map 22.

A position 24 of each circuit 12,14,16 is designated a start" position.

There are also marked on the playing area 10 areas 26 upon which are placed packs of instruction cards (not shown) for use during the game.

There are also provided credit tokens, in the form of banknotes, and a number of playing pieces in the form of miniature aeroplanes, boats and trains, for use on the circuits 12,14 and 16 respectively.

The number of sections 18 across which a player may move his playing piece during any particular turn is determined by spinning a model globe (not shown). A score of between 1 and 9 is obtained depending upon the value of degrees of longitude which rests adjacent a marker on the external supporting frame of the globe after the spin. Thus a longitude of 0 to 400 scores 1, 410 to 800 scores 2, and so on, with a longitude of 3210 to 3600 scoring 9.

At the start of the game each player is provided with a predetermined amount of credit by receiving a share of the money. Each player then takes a card at random from one of the packs, which assigns to him a destination selected from those places marked upon the various sections 18a, a method of transport corresponding to that of one of the circuits, and an accommodation cost, which he has to forfeit from the money he holds each time he reaches or passes the stated destination on the circuit.

Each player commences the game by placing his playing piece at the start position 24, and takes a turn at spinning the globe and thus moving his piece around the circuit according to the score obtained. If at any time he lands upon a section 18 marked with a coloured spot 20 he must take the next card from the appropriate pack, which is placed faced downwards on a respective area 26, and obey the instructions which are written on that card. The instructions may for example require him to pay some money into a central fund or to another player, or may entitle him to receive money from one of these sources. Alternatively, he may be instructed to move to a specific destination marked on a section 18a, or to move to a different one of the circuits 12,14,16, and thus to a different method of transport.To add further interest to the game, the result of any or all of the instructions on the cards may depend upon some personal characteristics of the player who is to obey those instructions, so that any particular card may be of more benefit or detriment to one player than to another.

The number of sections 18 marked with spots 20 differs for each respective circuit 12,14,16 so that, for example, the progress of the player on the "planes" circuit 12 may generally be expected to be faster than that of a player on the "boats" circuit 14. Different coloured spots 20 may also be used, so that a player is required to carry out instructions from those packs of cards which are more appropriate to his particular method of transport.

The end of the game may be determined in any of a number of ways as previously agreed by the players or prescribed by rules. For example, the globe may be spun at the start of the game to determine the number of circuits which each player must complete to finish the game. Alternatively, play may continue for an agreed length of time, the winner being the person having the most money at the end of that time. As a further alternative, play may continue until only one person has any money left.

The game may therefore be completed either in a short or in a long period of time depending on the requirements of the players in any particular case. A player's fortune may change quickly depending upon the scores he obtains and therefore the instructions which he is forced to follow.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The number of circuits and the methods of transport chosen may be different from those described, and more or less circuits may be provided upon the playing area. The locations designated may be local, national or international, and the methods of transport and instructions provided for use in the game may be varied accordingly. Any desired number of packs of different instruction cards may be provided. In addition, the score may be derived from the globe in a different manner to that described, or an alternative scoring means may be provided, for example dice. The rules of play may also differ from those described within the scope of the invention.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (1)

1. " CLAIMS "

   THE GAME COMPRISES OF A NUMBER OF PLAYING PEICES EACH DISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE OTHERS.

   A NUMBER OF CIRCUITS AROUND A MAP 12,14,16, (on the drawing) EACH CIRCUIT REPRESENTS A JOURNEY TRAVELLED BY MEANS OF A TRAIN, BOAT OR PLANE OR ANY PERMUTATION THEREOF DEPENDING ON INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN OUT DURING THE GAME.

   PREFERABLY THE MOVEMENT OF THE PLAYING PEICES IS DETERMINED BY THE SPINNING OF A MODEL GLOBE.

   A SCORE OF BETWEEN 1 AND 9 IS OBTAINED DEPENDING UPON THE VALUE OF DEGREES LONGTITUDE WHICH RESTS ADJACENT TO A MARKER ON THE EXTERNAL SUPPORTING FRAME OF THE GLOBE. THUS THE LONGTITUDE OF 0 DEGREES TO 40 DEGREES SCORES 1, 41 DEGREES TO 80 DEGREES SCORES 2, AND SO ON WITH A LONGTITUDE OF 321 DEGREES TO 360 DEGREES SCORING 9.

   ALTERNATIVELY THE MOVEMENT OF THE PEICES MAY BE DETERMINED BY A ROLLING DEVICE MARKED AS A GLOBE BUT HAVING A NUMBER OF FLAT FACES EACH BEING MARKED WITH A NUMBER TOP DETERMINE THE SCORE.

   EACH CIRCUIT 12,14,16, IS PARTITIONED INTO A NUMBER OF SEPERATE SECTIONS 18 THE CIRCUITS 12,14,16,ARE DESIGNATED PLANES, BOATS, AND TRAINS RESPECTIVELY.

   SELECTED PLACES ALONG EACH CURCUIT ARE MARKED WITH COLOURED SPOTS 20 CO-ORDINATING WITH COLOURED INSTRUCTION CARDS OF WHICH HAVE TO OBEYED DURING THE GAME.

   THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXAMPLE REQUIRE THE PLAYER TO PAY/RECEIVE CREDIT TO/FROM A CENTRAL BANK. ALTERNATIVELY HE MAY BE INSTRUCTED TO MOVE TO A SPECIFIC DESTINATION OR MAYBE A CHANGE OF TRANSPORT e.g. ( balloon,bicicle or other means of transport ).

   THE CENTRAL BANK WOULD BE A PLACE TO EXCHANGE CURRENCIES WHILE PASSING THROUGH DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ALONG THE CURCUIT OR JOURNEY.

   THE SECTIONS 18 MARKED WITH SPOTS 20 DIFFER FOR EACH RESPECTIVE CIRCUIT12,14,16, SO THAT FOR EXAMPLE THE PROGRESS OF THE PLANES WOULD BE TWICE THE SPEED OF THE TRAINS AND THE PROGRESS OF THE TRAINS WOULD BE TWICE THE SPEED OF THE BOATS.