GB2274250A

GB2274250A - Apparatus for playing a game

Info

Publication number: GB2274250A
Application number: GB9300679A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas White; Giannetto Mariani; Simon Knock
Original assignee: Upstarts
Current assignee: Upstarts
Priority date: 1993-01-15
Filing date: 1993-01-15
Publication date: 1994-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2013-01-15
Also published as: GB2274250B; GB9300679D0; GB2274250A8

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a game comprises a board 10, a set of playing pieces 16 for moving about the board, a set of cards 20 each carrying on one face 22 a picture and on the other face 24 a plurality of questions about the picture and, for each player, a hand-held module 18 with sockets 26 into which game components 28 can be placed <IMAGE> .t

Description

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A GAME This invention relates to apparatus for playing a game.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising a board, a set of playing pieces for moving about the board, a set of cards each carrying on one face a picture and on the other face a plurality of questions about the picture and, for each player, a hand-held module with sockets into which game components can be placed.

The game is preferably based on a television viewing format.

Accordingly the playing cards may carry a picture depicted as appearing on a television screen, and the hand-held modules may be constructed to resemble remote control actuators as conventionally used for operating a television set.

The modules may have more than one set of sockets, with components (preferably constructed so that, when they are in place in the sockets, they resemble the buttons of a remote control actuator) being insertable into particular sockets in accordance with rules by which a game can be played with the apparatus.

The board may depict a number of different rooms, with a television screen in each room such that the playing pieces can be moved from room to room by way of the television sets in those rooms.

The board may also include a central region which can be accessed by any of the pieces from any of the rooms.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic representation of game play apparatus in accordance with the invention.

The Figure shows a game board 10 divided into eight separate "rooms" 12a...12h. All the rooms are arranged around the board so that they have adjacent walls as shown in the Figure. In each room, aside from other decorative features which are not shown but which can be designed to fit in with an overall design theme, there is a representation 14 of a television set.

The game is shown set up for four players. Each player has a playing piece 16 and a module or "remote control" 18. In addition a set of cards 20 is provided. The cards are housed in a box 21 and on one face 22 of each card there is a picture of a familiar nature, and on the other side 24 of each card there is a set of written questions, all of which relate to the picture on the other side of the card.

The game can be played by one player taking the first card from the box 20 and showing the picture on the card to the player on his left. The first player then asks the player viewing the card to answer the questions written on the back of the card. If the player viewing the card is able to answer correctly, then he or she is able to move their counter onward and/or wins the right to attempt another question. If the player is unable to answer correctly or declines to answer, the next player on the left has the opportunity to answer, then the next player and so on until the card is exhausted.

Under specified circumstances, for example when a player gives a correct answer to a question when that player's piece is at a particular location on the board, then that player may win a game component 28 to insert in a socket 26 in his/her remote control 18.

Furthermore, other players can take away game components 28 previously acquired by a player, if that player gives a wrong answer at a time when his/her playing piece is at a particular location.

The object of the game is to obtain a full set of components 28 in the sockets 26 in a remote control 18, and to prevent other players from similarly succeeding. Rules of the game may provide various schemes or facilities by which players can advance their scores or hinder the progress of other players.

It is a primary feature of this invention that the cards 20 have on the face 22 a familiar picture and on the other side a set of questions relating to this picture. For example the pictures may be stills from well known television advertisements and the questions may ask, for example, the name of the product being promoted in that advertisement and other related questions. The invention is not however restricted to the use of advertisement stills and the pictures may alternatively relate to famous moments in history or other recognisable images.

Claims

1. Apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising a board, a set of playing pieces for moving about the board, a set of cards each carrying on one face a picture and on the other face a plurality of questions about the picture and, for each player, a hand-held module with sockets into which game components can be placed.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the playing cards carry a picture depicted as appearing on a television screen, and the hand-held modules are constructed to resemble remote control actuators as conventionally used for operating a television set.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the modules have more than one set of sockets, with components being insertable into particular sockets in accordance with rules by which a game can be played with the apparatus.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the components, the sockets and the modules are constructed so that, when the components are in place in the sockets, they resemble the buttons of a remote control actuator.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the board depicts a number of different rooms, with a television screen in each room such that the playing pieces can be moved from room to room by way of the television sets in those rooms.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the board includes a central region which can be accessed by any of the pieces from any of the rooms.

7. Apparatus for playing a game, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.