GB2277878A - Board game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A board game apparatus comprises a board (1), playing pieces, number determining means such as a die or dice, and a pre-recorded visual electronically reproducible means such as a video cassette. The game may relate to television commercials. <IMAGE>

Description

ENTERTAINMENT APPARATUS The present invention relates to a board game played in conjunction with a video cassette tape. More particularly, but not exclusively, the game includes also playing pieces, question cards, and rules. The game may relate to television commercials.

Board games often incorporate playing pieces, question cards etc.

It is an object of the present invention to give the board game further dimension and interest by including a video cassette which may be played to form an integral part of the game, posing questions for the players to solve.

According to the present invention there is provided a game apparatus which comprises a board, playing pieces, number determining means and a pre-recorded visual electronically reproducible means.

Preferably the visual reproduction means also comprises an audio electronically reproducible means.

In this case the visual and/or audio reproducible means may comprise a prerecorded videotape cassette and means may be provided to display the prerecorded information.

In one embodiment the game comprises the following apparatus: 1. A playing board configured to represent the shape of a television set; 2. Playing pieces in the form of everyday household items e.g.

a radio set, a magazine rack and the like.

3. A video cassette tape, pre-recorded with a number of television commercials, each prefixed with a random number and with the manufacturers name or product name hidden or obscured from view; 4. An 'answers' book, identifying each of the commercials on the video tape; 5. Questions cards, each one asking a question relating to a television commercial, and an answer; 6. 'T.V. Dinner' tokens, to be awarded as the rules dictate; 7. A 'Fridge' for storage of the "T.V. Dinner" tokens while on the board as the game is being played; 8. 'Plates' for each player to store their T.V. Dinner tokens; 9. Wipe-clean cards for players to write down answers as the rules dictate; 10. A rules book; and 11. A die or dice.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how the same may be carried into effect, an embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a playing board; Figure 2 is an example of a playing piece; Figure 3 is a T.V. Dinner token; Figure 4 is a view of a video cassette tape cover; and Figure 5 are obverse and reverse views of an example of a question card.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows schematically a board 1 on which the game may be played. It is divided into a TV switch zone 2 and an initial playing zone 3.

The playing zone 3 comprises an annular ring of squares 4, each carrying a message or instruction for a player landing on that square. In the centre of the playing zone 3 is a space in which are delineated a space for a 'fridge' 5 for TV dinner tokens 6 and spaces 7 for question cards 8.

The TV switch zone 2 comprises eight circles, sequentially numbered and each bearing a message or instruction for a player landing thereon. A final circle is marked OFF and the player landing thereon, having fulfilled the conditions imposed by the rules, may be declared the winner.

Each player selects a playing piece 9, which may be based on items of household furniture, an example of which is shown in Figure 2.

The question cards 8 are preferably divided into time related sections, each referring to an advertisement associated with say, a particular decade. Within each section, there are a plurality of cards.

There is also a prerecorded videotape 10 which may include a number of segments of film, preferably of TV or film advertisements. Each is numbered randomly and answers are provided in a separate record. Obviously, the manufacturer's name and the product name will be deleted from the visual and audio part of the film.

The videotape is loaded at the start of the game and a segment is played whenever a player lands on a square indicating that the tape must be played and an answer given. The rules make the procedure clear.

For a better understanding of how the game is played, reference will now be made to suggested rules of the game: The players (2-6 in number) throw the die or dice and move a distance determined thereby around a board, following instructions indicated on a "square" landed on. The object of the game is to turn off the "T.V". To do this a player must collect a minimum of four "T.V. Dinner" tokens as they progress around the board and take them along the T.V. switches to the off switch.

T.V. Dinners may be acquired either by collecting them from a 'take a free T.V Dinner' square, or by answering correctly a question from either a 70's, 80's, 90's or some other decade card, asked by another player.

Another way to win a T.V. Dinner token is by identifying correctly a 'commercial break'. A video cassette tape is part of the game, and the tape is inserted into a video player at the start of the game. When a player lands on a 'commercial break' square, play is temporarily stopped until the cassette is played.

On the cassette are randomly numbered T.V. commercials, each prefixed with a number. There is also an answers book that names each product that the commercials are advertising.

If the product is named correctly by the player a T.V. Dinner token is awarded. If it is not, the next commercial on the tape is played and all the players then write down on the wipe clean cards which product they think is being advertised. Correct answers are rewarded with a T.V Dinner token. Incorrect answers mean that one dinner token must be returned to the centre of the board by the player or players that have not answered correctly.

Once a player has four T.V. Dinners, he may enter a zone of T.V switches.

A player must not enter the T.V. switches unless he has a minimum of four T.V. Dinners. If at any time while on the T.V. switches a player has less than four T.V. Dinners, the player must return directly to 'start' taking with him his remaining T.V. Dinners.

If a player lands on a 'take a card' square on his way along the T.V. switches to the off switch, the question on the card must be answered correctly. If it is, a T.V. Dinner token is awarded, and the player throws the die or dice again. If it is answered incorrectly, the player must lose one T.V. Dinner.

The player must throw the exact number on the die or dice to land on the 'off switch'. If not, he must 'bounce' back down the switches by the appropriate number to complete the number determined by the die or dice.

Once a player has landed on the 'off switch', the video cassette tape is played. If the player correctly identifies the commercial that is being played i.e. the product, the game is won. If not the player must return directly to the start with his T.V. Dinners.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A game apparatus comprising a board, playing pieces, number determining means and a pre-recorded visual electronically reproducible means.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the visual reproduction means also comprises an audio electronically reproducible means.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the visual and/or audio reproducible means comprises a pre-recorded videotape cassette and there may be provided means to display the pre-recorded information.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pre-recorded videotape cassette comprises segments of film, each prefixed by a randomly determined number.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tape comprises a pause space between each segment.

6. An apparatus as claimed in either claim 4 or claim 5, further comprising a book of answers, ordered according to said random numbers on the videotape cassette.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus comprises a playing board configured to represent the shape of a television set, playing pieces in the form of everyday household items e.g. a radio set, a magazine rack and the like, a video cassette tape, pre-recorded with a number of television or film commercials with the manufacturers name or product name hidden or obscured from view, an answers' book, identifying each of the commercial on the video tape, question cards, each one asking a question relating to a television commercial, and an answer thereto, T.V. Dinner tokens, to be awarded as the rules dictate, 'Fridge' for storage of T.V.

Dinner tokens while on the board as the game is being played, plates for each player to store their T.V. Dinner tokens, reusable cards for players to write down answers as the rules dictate, a rules book and a die, dice or other random number determining means.

8. A game apparatus substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.