GB2320441A

GB2320441A - Basketball board game

Info

Publication number: GB2320441A
Application number: GB9626757A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Philip Barrie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-12-23
Filing date: 1996-12-23
Publication date: 1998-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-23
Also published as: GB9626757D0; GB2320441B

Abstract

Basketball board game apparatus comprises a board 1 having a plurality of locations 2 arranged in a grid formation, including a plurality of starting locations and a plurality of point scoring locations, and some at least of which plurality of locations relate to game playing instructions, player markers, and at least one die.

Description

Basketball Game The invention relates to board game apparatus, particularly but not exclusively, relating to a basketball game.

There are many board games on the market relating to simulating various sports, but there has never been a game which successfully replicates basketball.

The present application seeks to provide board game apparatus for a basketball game.

According to the invention there is provided board game apparatus comprising a board having a plurality of locations arranged in a grid formation, including a plurality of starting locations and a plurality of point scoring locations, and some at least of which plurality of locations relate to game playing instructions, player markers, and at least one die.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises cards bearing game instructions and some at least of the locations relate to the drawing of a card. Preferably some locations are marked with game instructions, possibly relating to the scoring of points. Preferably the game is a basketball game and the board includes markings similar to those on a basketball court. Preferably some locations relate to the scoring of extra points, possibly upon throwing a certain number on the die or dice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings which show: Fig. 1 a board; Fig. 2a-c player markers, cards and a die.

The board game apparatus comprises a board 1 having a plurality of locations 2 laid out in a grid formation (in this exemplary embodiment 14 locations across by 21 locations in length). The board further comprises two double locations 3 located centrally at each end of the board having the representation of a basket. The board has further line markings 4,5 corresponding to the basketball court markings and an arc 6 relating principally to defensive rules. A free throw line 7 runs transversely across the board in each half at 6/10th the way from the edge of the board to the half way line.

The location 2 can be any one of four types: some bear game instructions such as those relating to scoring points (Dunk, lay up or jump shot) or game moves (steal or turn over). The locations relating to scoring points are substantially adjacent to the basket location 3. These scoring locations are interspersed with steal locations.

Further steal and turn over locations are located randomly across the board. Other locations which are coloured either red or blue relate to cards bearing game instructions or game moves and are randomly located across the board. Four squares in each half of the board relate to a golden shot which can result in extra points being earned. Finally, the remaining locations are blank and have no game instructions or special moves associated with them.

Figure 2a shows cards bearing game instructions. The cards relate to game instructions corresponding to events in a game of basketball. The instructions mimic what would happen if such an event took place. Such events include by way of example: a cross court pass - move three squares forward; foul - go back four squares; technical foul - go back to base line (edge of board); travelling violation miss a throw; forward pass - go forward five squares; pushed player - go back five squares; charge violation - miss two throws; penalty - move to free throw line. Both sets of card have the same types of instructions, in order that players do not simply avoid penalty squares.

Figure 2b shows player markers. These could be any shape, but preferably are figurines representing famous basketball players. Figure 2c shows a conventional six sided die.

To play the game, the board is laid flat on a suitably sized table and the two coloured packs of cards are laid adjacent to the board. These cards should be shuffled before play commences. The game is typically played with two dice. Each team has a maximum of five players but the game can be played one on one, two on two, three on three or four on four and can thus be played by between two and ten players. Equally, two players could play with up to five player markers each.

To start the game both teams start at opposite ends of the court and all the player markers must be inside the arc.

Which team starts play is determined by the roll of two dice. In play, the player markers can be moved sideways forwards and diagonally in straight lines, the distance travelled being determined by the score on the dice. It is possible to move more than one player marker on a given dice roll as long as the total number of squares moved adds up to the score on the dice. Play alternates between teams. If a player marker lands on a square already occupied by an opposing player, then the first player must miss a turn.

When a player marker lands on a location relating to game instructions then those instructions are followed.

This can be either by way of drawing a card from the appropriately coloured pack of cards. For locations marked with game instructions on the board the following rules apply: for dunk, lay up or jump shot two points are scored; if a player lands on steal or turn over then the player marker is moved back four squares. For the case where a player lands on a location marked "golden shot" then they have another throw and if a double is thrown then three points are scored. Points may also be scored by way of penalty cards drawn from either of the coloured packs. In this case the player marker moves to the penalty line 5 and throws the dice. If the combined score on the dice is six or less, then one point is scored, if combined score on the dice is seven or more, then two points are scored.

If two or three points are scored, then the scoring team returns to their own half and the conceding team restarts the game from the back court line (edge of the board). If only one point is scored, then the scoring player must return to his own arc and the nearest opposing player will throw the dice.

If an attacking player marker is in a blocking position, then a penalty is conceded. The attacking player marker remains in its attacking position, but the defender goes straight to the free throw line 7 and throws the dice.

As before if the combined score on the dice is six or less, then one point is scored, if combined score on the dice is seven or more, then two points are scored.

It can thus be seen that the game is very simple to play and that games can have a comparatively short duration (e,g, from ten to forty minutes) and yet the game accurately mimics the rules and flow of play of real basketball.

Claims

1. Board game apparatus comprising a board having a plurality of locations arranged in a grid formation, including a plurality of starting locations and a plurality of point scoring locations, and some at least of which plurality of locations relate to game playing instructions, player markers, and at least one die.

2. Board game apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises cards bearing game instructions and some at least of the locations relate to the drawing of a card.

3. Board game apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein some locations are marked with game instructions.

4. Board game apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the locations marked with game instructions relate to the scoring of points.

5. Board game apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the game is a basketball game and the board includes markings similar to those on a basketball court.

6. Board game apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein some locations relate to the scoring of extra points

7. Board game apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the scoring of extra points depends upon throwing a certain number on the die or dice.

8. Board game apparatus substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.