GB2391490A

GB2391490A - A board game

Info

Publication number: GB2391490A
Application number: GB0218300A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford Maurice Barlow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-07
Filing date: 2002-08-07
Publication date: 2004-02-11
Also published as: GB0218300D0

Abstract

A board game comprises a board on which the players move along a path divided into steps or stages. Movement is governed by a random number generator such as a dice. The board may be two or three dimensional having a pathway with obstacles, short cuts, directional and instructional signs and diverse routes, intended to represent a 'life journey'. The game illustrated is based on town planning. Stickers denoting features such as buildings are supplied, together with events in life, by which the appearance of the board may be changed. Property cards for the various areas are also supplied.

Description

239 1 490

PATENT APPLICATION

TITLE:- The PLAN IT GAME .. DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

1. The "Plan it " Game is essentially the ultimate board type game, where the players or their representatives or markers move along a path divided into steps or stages by a series of "In turn" moves whose length or distance or number of stages is determined by a random device such as Dice.

The path may have obstructive devices that delay progress or devices to hasten or help progress. The stages of the path may be distinguished by representations of either man made or natural features such as buildings or industries, roads or rivers SPECIFICA TION

2. The novelty of the Planit game is that the intention of performing the game "whether for leisure, education, propaganda or other reasons) may be changed by the owner or players by changing the subjects represented or exhibited graphically or by text at and by the successive stages along the indicated paths to be followed by the players' markers.

The subject or significance of these stages may be altered or exchanged to suit the owner's or players, personal interests, purposes, objectives, politics or culture. The layout of the paths and stages allows the route to be followed by players to be changed to present them with alternatives or choices.

The game has provision for adaptation in intent, path or progression, stage representation or rules. The Planit game makes provision for these adaptations to be made by each owner as or when desired.

The board may consist of one or more flat or curved surfaces existing in either two or three dimensions with pathways, stages, obstructions, short cuts, directional and instruction signs exhibited to the players and others by deposition of dye or pigment or incision or etching l

or by imaging by photo or electronic projection or excitation or other means.

Communication between players of the game may be either by direct sensual exchange or by distant electronic or optical transmission. In the illustrated example - "The Plan-your-own-city" Coventry edition, the intention of the game is a combination of a citizen's progress through life and the impact of the development versus consultation choices made by the cit council and its planners, with relevant critical comment.

DRY WINGS

Instead of drawings the specification is illustrated by full size

actual examples of a Planit Game entitled Plan-Your-Own-City (Coventry 1) together with some general adaptive features. This consists of: 1. 1 only Ref. B1 - full size (A3) print of board 2. 8 sheets - Ref. C1 to C8 stage site "Title Deeds" Cards showing site and ownership information 3. 4 sheets - Ref. S1 to S4 - stage change "Stickers", Route change Arrows and Player Markers (These units may be cut out and stuck over any stage of the board in order to make a change in intention or relevance or other requirements 4. 4 sheets - List - of C and S stage change Stickers and C) eeds 5. 2 sheets -How to Play the Game. Preliminary suggestions 6. 1 only Ref. B2 - Outline only print, showing layout of paths and stages, for creation of a board by an owner

The PLANIT GAME The Plan-Your-Own-City (Coventry Edition) HOW TO PLAY

Since a principle feature of this game is that it is adaptable to suit the interests, objectives and culture of its players, it may have no unalterable rules.

However, it has been designed to be played according to a progressive series of actions which may also be modified.

The un- adapted Coventry Board should be played as follows: 1. The players move personal markers in sequence along the path marked out round the four sides of the board by a series of stops or stages representing natural or man made features or attributes.

2. The number of stages moved by each player in turn is determined by a random device such as dice or flipping coins etc. Each player may have one marker.

3. Players start (unless handicapped) from the corner site marked "BABY" and proceed to "STUDENT", "WORKER" and "PENSIONER" to the stage before "REBIRTH" when they may either traverse the outer path again or transfer to the inner course beginning with stop 23 - "TAX".

Having completed the inner course of stops a player may have a choice (or not) decided by a card or dice to proceed to "PARADISE" or "HELL" which may be the end of the game for the player, or to go to "REBIRTH" and continue to play. 4. The path or course of stages has some diversion stops which penalise a player who lands on them by directing them to "LIMBO", "JAIL", "REHABilitation" or several stages in reverse. There are also stops which direct a player to Short Cuts which aid progress.

The penalties attached to a stay in JAIL etc. may be settled by a consensus of opinion of the players at the commencement of the game.

5. The game may be played by a number of individual players either as a race to end first, or to acquire wealth by commerce

k or gambling. The game may also be played by teams of players to prove a point or theory.

6. If the Board or any rules are to be changed it is probably easier for first time players to do this at the beginning of a game by agreement, rather than during the course of the game as in real or alien life.

7. This is essentially a game for all persons and purposes and although it has the capability of extensive adaptation, these should be within the law of the country.

HOW TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE BOARD

As stated previously, the game may be adapted to suit the locality, interests, purposes and culture of the owner and players. The Rules have been dealt with above and changes may be made according to the will of the players.

Changes to the board may be made by applying the adhesive stickers over the existing site captions to change the name or attribute of the site. Likewise arrows may be stuck in different places to change the diversions and short cuts.

The Site Change Stickem are of two kinds to be employed in different ways.

1. Those which change the locality, subject matter, purpose and culture of the board and game. The Stickers tat effect these changes must usually be applied before a game starts. 2. the stickers that are meant to change a site during the game such as the three "DEV SlTE"s, Numbers 24, 28, & 32.

If none of the stickers supplied fit a required need, a hand written notice on one of the blank stickers provided will usually serve.

CONTENTS OF PACKAGE

1. The Board -- 2 copies 2. Site and Arrow Stickers - 1 copy of Sets S1, S2, S3, S4 3. Site Cards - 1 copy of Sets C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8 4. Dice and 12 Player Markers 5. How to Play the Game.

6. 1 only - Outline only print, showing layout of path and stages, for creation of board by owner

PLANIT GAMES

COVENTRY PLAN-YOUR-CITY GAME

NUMBERED LIST of SQUARES with INFORMATION DETAILS CARD No. STICK.No. Cat. Pr. P/R 1.BABY / REBIRTH-

2.PARKSC3

#3.MARKETC]

4.0RIGINAL PRECINCTC3 25

#5.UNIVERSITY.C1

#6.1^NES TENTC1 L

7.STUDENT / LIMBO-

#8.PRECINCTELEVATORC1 L

9.RING ROADC3 28

#10.FACTORYC1

11.HIPPODROMEC3 J

12.WORKER / JAIL-

#13.LOWER PRECINCTC1 J

#14.BANKS.C1

#15.NEW CATHEDRALC1 32

#16.PIJBLIC TRANSPORTC2

#17.BUS STATIONC2 RH

18.PENSIONER I REHAB--

#19.COUNTY HALLC2 RH

#20.HOSPITALSC2

#21.SSSIC2

22.WAGE (Receive ú500J-

23.TAX (Income) (Pay ú50)-

#24.PUBC2

#25.DEV. SITE 1 (Gas Wks.)C3 #26 CHURCHC2 D

#27.CITY COUNCIL (Pay LocalTax) C2 L 28.DEV.SITE 2 C?

#29.CONSERVE HERITAGE -- 31 D

30.DEV.DIRECTORATE-- J

31.PRIORY AREAC3

32.DEV.SITE 3C?

#33.CONSERVE NATURE-- 35 D

34.PLANNERS-- RH

#35.LOO-PUElLIC TOILETS ? 36.LUCK CARD (Take card "GO TO " or "Throw rice") 37.HELL Several altemative stickers S3 38.PARADISE - Several stickers S3 ALTERNATIVE SITE SUBJECTS

DEVELOPMENT SITES 25. 28 & 32

#1. CHIP SHOP C5 S1 Purchases #2. NEWSAGENT C5 S1..

#3. CHEMISTS C5 S1..

#4.POST OFFICE C5 S1..

#5. BOOKIES C5 S1 ?

#6. BLUE-BELLWOOD C4 S1

#7. DUCK POND C4 S1 Bread #8. ZOO C 4 S1 ?

#9. BLACKBERRY BUSH C4 S1 Plaster #(10)-. NEW ENTERPRISE C7 S2

?. XMAS CLUB C clip S ? ETC.

SITE REPLACEMENTS

1. FOR 26 CHURCH

# CHAPEL C4 S2

# SYNAGOGUE C4 S1

# MOSQUE C4 S1

# TEMPLE (Hindu) C4 S1 # TEMPLE (BUDHIST) S1

# '- HOUSE - (Meeting) S1, S2 2. REPLACEMENTS for Other Sites #2.-PUBLIC GARDENS C6 S1

#4.-PUBLIC SQUARE C6 S1

#35-PUBLIC LOO C5 S1

-SCHOOL S2

#5.-COLLEGE C6 S2

-UNIVERSITY S2

#6.-EBroadgate Restoration C3 C6 #8.-STORE C6 S2

SUPERMARKET S2

FARM S2

NEW ENTERPRISE S2

#9.-BYPASS ROAD C6 S2

#13.-POLICE STATION C6 S1

#15.-CATHEDRAL C6

#19.-CONSERVED BUILDING C3 C7 S2 S1?

#21.-C0NSERVED NATURE C7 S2 S1

HERITAGE PROJECT S2

ENVIRONMENT PROJECT S2

#24.-CAFE (Tea Strop) C7 S2 -RESTAURANT S2

- CLUB, SOCIETY or Association S2 #27.-LOCALGOVERNMENT C7 S1

#30.-LOCALGOVERNIJIENT LEADER C7 S1

SOCIAL SERVICES S2

DUST BINS & DRAINS S2

#29 -HERITAGE CONSERVATION C5

#31.-HERITAGE PROJECT C7

#33 -NATURE CONSERVATION C5

#37.-MEMBER of PARLIAMENT C7 S1 DOCTOR G P S2

PARADISE & FIELL Alternatives Stickers Beer, Women and Football S3 Old Broadgate - Spires & Godiva St. George and Devil Ice Cream, Jelly and Chocolates S3 Angels FIRE & DESTRUCTION S3

SCHOOL S3

NEW / ADDED SUBJECTS for card series INDUSTRIES & SERVICES

EDUCATION

SCIENCE

PHILOSOPHY AND POLITICS

g PLAYERS MARKERS ALL S3

1 ELIA

2-RUTH

30YCE 4.-CAROLINE

5ENNIFER

6-PAM 7-ANDREW

8-FRANK

9ACK 1 0AMES

1 1-ROBERT

1 2.HAROLD

TOTAL = 24 CARDS ?

BACKGROUND COLOURS for SUBJECT CATEGORIES

PLAN-YOUR-OWN-CITY (COVENTRY)

ORIGINAL GOOD DEV. ------------------ PI N K

B. A D D E V '------------------ C Y. A N

D E V. SIT E R. E P. 1 A C E. --------------

C O. N S. E R V A TI O N ---------------- G R E E N

P U B., C H U R C H -----------------

FACTORY, MARKET, -------------- (J. t{] lit4.u, 6' HOSPITAL, UNIVERSITY..

BANK ------------ OR.IBRN.

GOVERNMENT ------------- BLUE

TAX -------------- GREY

L U C K, C H. A N C E -------------- R E D

REPLACEMENT CATEGORIES

DEV.SITE Replacements - Utilities -

.. - Conservation GREEN .... Other Dev. -..DTD: SITE REPLACEments -26-Religion - WHITE .. - Public Utilities - krec\7 .. - Prod.& Sales Pnk .. Educ.& Health .. - Service & Trans. .. OTHERS AS ABOVE

Claims

q CLAIMS The PLANIT GAME The Planit system makes provision for a game, contest or test performed on or with a diagrammatic representation of a sequence of features, factors or events real or imaginary which form and illustrate the progress impeding or aiding factors to be encountered by the players whether of a general nature or restricted to some particular subject or objective to be planned and adapted in accordance with the interests, purposes, politics, locality or culture of the owners, organizers or players: This can be done by changing the type and position of the progress stages, by altering the route by indicators such as arrows and by setting the magnitude of the progress advancing or retarding factors by adjusting the rules of the contest. Amended claims have been filed as follows A # a I/ _513d Th" DLA'!T CARLA' YT=.ve The Planit Game System has a Board design that together await;, range OT accessories provides the means of choosing or changing, by its possessors and or players, the features and directives displayed or; or by the board so as to provide a game to suit the abilities and wishes of its participants and players in respect of their interests beliefs & customs, their purposes and objectives. Board Design The layout of the board consists of two or more parallel or concentric pathways of rectangular or other shape along which the markers of the players are moved. The pathways have at least one junction which may render them sequential and they may also be provided with short cuts and delaying features, which make a multitude of different routes for the markers to follow The pathways are divided into sequential stages or sites. These sites are distinguished by text, diagrams, pictures or other differentiating features. These may represent either physical entities, such as buildings, or plans for such: or concepts such as morals, science, philosophy, or any aspect of humanity or the universe. The board itself may be printed or otherwise reproduced on one or more flat or curved sheets of a material such as paper, film or foil or in three dimensions, such that parts of the board may be in different planes. The board may also be optically projected or imaged by means of a computer or other electronic image producing screen and games created, adapted and played accordingly. Accessories These provide the principle means of adapting a board and a game to suit its owners, participants and players.

1. STICKERS

these may of consruc;ted of ad nesive or sem i-au nesive sheet material carrying texts, diagrams or pictures which dddal; be ap.5a" to.h" board ad sit. cards A, À.,= purpose v, aiy;.y u' aaaptliy i;;'e ''azure or; naracieristics of a site or defining its purpose, development or conservation. Three dimensional objects may also be used in a similar manner.

Stickers showing arrows or other directional signs or directives may be used to alter the routes or progress of players markers. These may also be either two or three dimensional.

2. SITE CARDS

These may be used in a game involving site ownership by players. They may also be originated or adapted to suit the players purposes.

3. TOKENS of VALUE These may represent any currency (past or present) or barter goods. They are for use in games involving exchange of value of goods or services such as site purchase or rent, donations, food and goods.