GB2409175A - Question and answer board game - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a game comprises a board, a plurality of playing pieces, means for determining movement of the pieces across the board, a scoring pad, sheet or like recording device for each of the players and a plurality of sets of question cards, with each set of question cards relating to a particular subject. The board is marked with a first path 10 and a second path 11 along which the playing pieces are arranged to move, each of the first and second paths being divided into a plurality of units on which the playing pieces are arranged to land and each of the units being so marked as to enable a player whose playing piece lands on a particular unit to identify the set of questions appropriate to that unit. The theme of the game may relate to education in that the questions to be answered relate to the subjects a student wishes to revise before taking an examination.

Description

24091 75 in.

MEANS FOR PLAYING A GAME

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to means for playing a game.

With the current pressures on the taking of examinations, it is desirable to encourage teenagers to revise and it is an object of the present invention to provide means for playing a game that is enjoyable and, at the same time, enables the players of the game to revise in a relaxed atmosphere.

A more general object of the present invention is the provision of novel means for playing a game.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided means for playing a game comprising a board, a plurality of playing pieces, means for determining movement of the pieces across the board, a scoring pad, sheet or like recording device for each of the players and a plurality of sets of question cards, each set of question cards relating to a particular subject and the board being marked with a first path and a second path along which the playing pieces are arranged to move, each of the first and second paths being divided into a plurality of units on which the playing pieces are arranged to land and each of the units being so marked as to enable a player whose playing piece lands on a particular unit to identify the set of questions appropriate to that unit, the player then being asked a question on a card taken from the relevant set of cards and the player then being given either a positive point or the like if the question is answered correctly or a negative point or the like if the question is answered incorrectly.

The arrangement is preferably such that, during the playing of the game, a player moves along the first path until he or she has acquired a predetermined number of positive points or the like and then transfers to the second path. The second path is preferably different from the first path, but may be the same as the first path.

In either event, the actions of a player while travailing along the second path will differ from the actions taken while travailing along the first path in that a player travailing along the second path will be required to give sufficient correct answers to counter the number of negative points or the like that were acquired while travelling along the first path.

The questions on the cards may be at more than one level of difficulty.

The units into which each path is divided are preferably of different colours, with each set of cards relating to a particular subject corresponding to units of a particular colour. The subjects associated with a particular colour may be the same for each of the players, but may be different for each of the players. For example, there may be question cards relating to six or more different subjects and each player may be entitled to select four specific subjects.

In addition to the units associated with particular subjects, there may be units of a different colour or colours for which other action is required when a playing piece lands on a particular unit.

Brief Descrintion of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a board for playing a game, and Figure 2 shows a score sheet for use when playing the game.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The board shown in Figure 1 is marked with an outer path 10 and with an inner path 1 1, with each of the paths 10 and 11 having a configuration corresponding to that of an eight-pointed star and with the points of the star forming the inner path 11 touching the outer path 10. Each path 10, 11 is divided into a series of squares or other units and, during playing of the game, each player moves along the paths 10 and 11 as described below.

The contents of the game will typically be as follows: a) a board, b) six or more sets of question cards with, for example, 100 cards in each set, with each set corresponding to a revision subject, e.g. mathematics, history, geography, physics, chemistry and biology, c) a pack of "Challenge" cards, d) twenty "Carrot" tokens, e) a dice or other device for determining the number of spaces that each player should move when it is his or her turn, f) six playing pieces, g) a timer, typically a 30seconds timer, h) six scoring pads, each comprising a plurality of score sheets as shown in Figure 2, and i) six revision wallets.

Where appropriate, there will be a higher tier question, an intermediate tier and a foundation tier question on each card.

Where this does not apply, there will be one or two questions of appropriate tier(s) on each card. The answers are either on the reverse of the cards or adjacent the questions. If desired, the question cards can be kept by the players for the duration of the game. The players (students) can also use the question cards as flash cards for individual revision if they so wish.

The squares or other shaped units of each path 10, 1 1 are of randomly selected colours representing different subjects, apart from the eight outer points of the star forming the outer path 10 that are of a different colour and represent starting points for the players. In addition, if a player lands on these spaces, they can select the subject on which to answer a question. The diamond shapes that connect the outer path 10 to the inner path 1 1 represent "Challenge" card places and, when a player lands on one of these spaces, he or she will take a card from the "Challenge" pack of cards and will perform the task stated on the "Challenge" card.

Before starting to play the game, each of the players must decide the subjects on which they will answer questions and the appropriate tier. The players will then fill in their score sheets, choosing the colours of the squares on the board that correspond to their chosen subjects.

A six-sided dice is used to determine how many squares a player can move during each turn. The players place their pieces on the nearest point of the star forming the outer path 10 and the person first to start can be the one whose birthday is next.

Alternatively, the players may shake the dice and the one with the highest score will start first. Up to, for example, six players can play the game. It is also possible to play the games in teams, with two or three players in each team and up to six teams.

The players will also decide on the number of correct answers for each subject that are required. A typical number is three but this may be varied as required, depending on the number of players and the amount of time that is available.

At the beginning of a turn, a player throws the dice and then moves his or her playing piece along the outer path 10 in a clockwise direction depending on the fall of the dice. Each question has to be answered within the time limit, as determined by the timer. The colour of the square that a player lands on determines the subject on which a question has to be answered.

This depends on the original subjects that were chosen as recorded on the score sheets adjacent the different colours. For example, for one of the players, geography may be green, chemistry blue and physics red, while for another of the players, history is green, mathematics is blue and biology is red. Another player then asks the question on the chosen subject.

When a player answers a question correctly, he or she places a tick in the box on the score sheet in the correct subject row. If a player answers a question incorrectly, a cross is placed on the line below and the incorrectly answered question is placed in his or her revision wallet.

If a player lands on a diamond space interconnecting the outer path 10 and the inner path 11, he or she must take a "Challenge" card, which will instruct him or her to do something silly or daring. If they complete the challenge to the satisfaction of I. the rest of the group, that player is awarded a "strategy" point. This strategy point can be used as a tick against a subject of their choice or can be used to deduct a tick from another player. If, however, the player desires to use the "strategy" point to thwart or slow down a player who has already reached the inner path 11, they cannot deduct a tick from them but, instead, that other player can be given an extra question card to answer from one of that other player's four subjects.

When a player lands on a coloured square that represents a subject that they have already completed, play then passes to the next player. Such player must then wait for the next throw of the dice and hope to land on a square corresponding to a subject for which they still have to answer questions or on a point of the star when they can choose any of the subjects for which they still have to answer questions.

Each player has a revision wallet in which he or she stores the question cards for the questions that have been answered incorrectly until he or she has a completed row of ticks for each of the subjects on which they have answered questions.

Once a player has completed all of the selected subjects, he or she then moves to the inner path 11 that has the same mix of coloured subject squares for the playing pieces to land on. The object is now to land on the relevant colours to match the subjects in the revision wallets. When a player lands on a square of a particular colour, the player has the opportunity to answer a question from a question card in the revision wallet. Each question has to be read out and answered correctly. If the question is answered correctly, the question card is returned to the question box. If the question is answered incorrectly, that card must be placed back in the revision wallet. Only one question card can be taken from the revision wallet in any one turn.

It is to be noted that each score sheet includes an area where students can write down their weak knowledge areas for them to look up afterwards. This should help them to direct their revision to the weaker areas. It is also to be noted that the more questions a player answers incorrectly while on the outer path 10, the more question cards they will have in their revision wallet when they transfer to the inner path 11, and the more difficult it will be for them to win the game.

The winner of the game, who may be given a coveted title, is the player on the inner path 11 who first empties his or her revision wallet.

Detailed rules for a specific form of the game are as follows: The Obiective of the Game To be the first player to answer three questions correctly on each of the three chosen subjects, making a total of nine correct answers. Then, to successfully re-answer any questions that were answered incorrectly the first time. Then it's just a quick trot to the finishing post. The first player at the finishing post is the 'Geniass'.

Quick summary of the rules:

How to start: Each player or team of players chooses which three subjects they want to revise and writes the names of their subjects against the three colours on their score sheet.

Where to start: Players place their playing pieces on the nearest golden horseshoe on the outer star, ready to move in a clockwise direction when it is their turn to roll the dice.

The 'Outer Star' is where a player moves around clockwise and answers questions until they have enough correct answers in all of their subjects. The colour of the square on which the player lands on the board matches the subject next to the corresponding colour on the score card. The golden horseshoe (squares at the star points) is a free subject choice The 'Inner Star' is where players re-answer their incorrectly answered questions from their revision wallets once they have completed their subjects.

The 'Finishing Post' on the inner star is where you must land with the correct roll of the dice to finish the game once you have an empty revision wallet. If you land on this before you have an empty wallet, you miss a go.

How to score: When a question is answered, the level 1, 2 or 3 is written in either the 'correct' or the 'incorrect' answer line on the score sheet next to the subject. When there are two consecutive correct answers, the player must move up a level in that subject; likewise, when there are two consecutive incorrect answers, the player moves down a level in that particular subject.

What is the revision wallet for? Any incorrectly answered question cards must be placed in the player's revision wallet and held until the player has completed all three subjects and can move up onto the inner 'revision' star.

Once on the inner star, the player begins re-answering the questions in their wallet as they land on the appropriate colour. If they re-answer the question incorrectly a second time, they may not discard it but place it back into the revision wallet and re- answer it during another turn.

Double question spaces: These are what they say. If a player lands on a Double Question space, he/she must answer two questions from two different question cards. The player may choose the subjects.

Assin'about spaces: When a player lands on an assin'about space, they must take an assin'about card and choose one of the two task or dare options. If the other players are happy that the task or dare has been completed satisfactorily, the player wins a carrot token.

When to trade in carrot tokens: Players can trade their carrot tokens at the beginning of a turn once they have completed one of their subjects. One carrot token can be traded to score a substitute correct answer on the player's own score sheet or can be traded to deduct a correct answer from another player's score sheet. If that player is already on the inner star - they are given an extra card for their revision wallet. They must answer the question at the level they were last on in that subject.

How and when to move up from the outer star to the inner star: Once a player has gained enough correct answers in all three subjects, he/she can move from the outer star to the inner star at their next roll of the dice. Simply move up onto the inner star at the next available junction where a gold point of the inner star overlaps onto the outer star.

How to win: Be the first player to complete enough correct answers in all subjects, finish re-answering all of the question cards in their revision wallet and race to the finishing post. Throw the exact number on the dice to land on the finishing post to win.

Other essential information Subject Choices Each individual set of cards has a different colour simply to help you distinguish between them. However, the colours on the cards DO NOT relate to the colours on the board and score sheet.

The subjects available in a typical box are: English Maths Physics Chemistry Biology Religious Studies Each player chooses only three subjects to study and everyone's subject choices may be different.

(Questions for additional subjects are available separately) You will see that each pack of subject cards is subdivided into topic areas. If you do not wish to revise specific topics, you can remove them before the start of play. Alternatively, if you wish to concentrate your revision for a subject on specific topic area/e, choose only these to play with in the game.

Now each player can choose the level at which to play the game. There are three levels of difficulty on the question cards: Level 1 is pretty easy and will suit younger brothers and sisters at Key Stage 3, parents who sat their GCSEs donkeys' years ago, or Year 10/11 students who find GCSEs a donkey load of work! Level 2 is intermediate, and Level 3 is aimed at the high flyers.

Be brave when you choose your level! You can drop a level if you get two questions wrong in a row on one of your subjects.

Likewise, get two correct in a row and you move up a level - unless you are already on level three.

2. Answering Questions The person on your right takes the relevant subject card out and reads the topic heading and question aloud. You might need to take a look at the card if the question involves a diagram or if reading it makes it easier for you to understand.

If you answer correctly, write the Level number of the question that you answered (1, 2, or 3) in the 'correct' row of your scorecard against that subject; If you answer incorrectly, take the question card and read the answer aloud (learning the answer now will come in very handy later in the game). Write the question Level number in the bottom row (with the crosses) against the subject and place the card in your 'Revision Wallet' for later.

Play then moves on to the next person to your left. If you land on a subject that you have already completed, play passes immediately to the next person.

3. assin'aboutTM and Carrot Tokens If you land on an 'assin'about' space, take an 'assin'about' card and follow the instructions. Some of the cards require you to use the timer.

There are two choices: if you are a little shy, you may choose to do the less crazy option. Be brave though, it's more fun!!! Do your assin'about task well and you will be awarded a 'Carrot Token'! Carrot Tokens are very valuable. They can only be used once you have completed one of your subjects and only at the beginning of a turn. They are traded in as follows: Award yourself a tick in the "correct answer" line on your scorecard, against any of your three subjects, as a Or Make another player cross out one of their correct answers. If your chosen victim is already on the inner star (see below), put an extra question card in his/her Revision Wallet - you choose which of the victim's subjects the card comes from.

Carrot Tokens gained on the outer star cannot be saved and used once you are on the inner star.

4. Becoming The Geniass There are two ways to win the game and become today's Geniass.

The usual way to win: When all three subjects are complete (i.e. you have recorded three correct answers for each subject on your scorecard), use or discard any Carrot Tokens and when your next turn comes around, turn right at the first 'assin'about' space that your playing piece comes to and move up onto the inner star. You must now re-answer the questions in your revision wallet by landing on the appropriately coloured spaces. If you answer the question correctly this time, you can return the card to its subject box. If you get the answer wrong again, the card goes back into the wallet and you must wait for the next time that you land on that colour. This process is repeated every time you get your turn, until you've emptied your revision wallet. When the wallet is empty, race to the finishing post - you need the exact number to land on it.

The ultra-smart way to win: Should you be so incredibly smart that you did not answer any questions incorrectly, on completion of your three subjects move up onto the inner star and throw the correct number to land on the finishing post. The first person to land on the finishing post is the GENIASS! Timings Because the game Geniass can be played by two to six players, the time it takes to complete a game varies quite a lot.

The scorecards have plenty of extra spaces to allow you to extend a game by answering more questions per subject should you so choose.

RULES OF SINGLE-SUBJECT Geniass This variation on the rules allows you to play the game in order to revise just one subject. There may be occasions when this is very useful - perhaps a teacher wants you to revise only the subject he or she has taught you, or you may want to cram in some lastminute revision, just before a test, to give yourself a better chance of a good grade.

The differences from the standard game are as follows: Getting Started 2 4 players, or teams of players, can play single-subject Geniass.

Each player chooses one of the four colours on the board - red, purple, green or the gold start squares. Should there be only three players, the gold squares become common ground. In the case of only two players, choose two colours each.

Answering Questions If you land on your own colour, you answer a question at your chosen starting level. Proceed as in the normal game when you get the answer right or wrong.

If you land on another player's colour, he/she is asked the question at his/her chosen level.

If the question is answered correctly, his/her scorecard is marked in the normal way in the 'correct' row. Play moves on to the next player whose turn it is to throw the dice, i.e. the person to your left.

If the question is answered incorrectly, his/her scorecard is marked in the normal way in the 'incorrect' row, and the card is put into his/her revision wallet for later. You (the person whose throw it was) then have a turn to answer a question from a fresh card, and mark your scorecard accordingly (remember to place the card in your revision wallet if you get it wrong). Play moves on to the person to your left.

When there are only three players, the gold squares are common ground and the player who lands on a gold square is asked a question.

Length of the game Because only one subject is being used, more questions need to be answered in the single subject to make a worthwhile game. We suggest that you try to answer ten questions correctly per player or team. However, the number decided upon should reflect the time available and how many players there are.

In all other respects, including the use of 'assin'about' cards and Carrot Tokens, the single-subject game proceeds as in the rules for the normal game. Have fun!

Claims (8)

1. Claims: 1. Means for playing a game comprising a board, a plurality of

   playing pieces, means for determining movement of the pieces across the board, a scoring pad, sheet or like recording device for each of the players and a plurality of sets of question cards, each set of question cards relating to a particular subject and the board being marked with a first path and a second path along which the playing pieces are arranged to move, each of the first and second paths being divided into a plurality of units on which the playing pieces are arranged to land and each of the units being so marked as to enable a player whose playing piece lands on a particular unit to identify the set of questions appropriate to that unit, the player then being asked a question on a card taken from the relevant set of cards and the player then being given either a positive point or the like if the question is answered correctly or a negative point or the like if the question is answered incorrectly.
2. 2. Means for playing a game as claimed in Claim 1, in which the rules of the game are such that, during the playing of the game, a player moves along the first path until he or she has acquired a predetermined number of positive points or the like and then transfers to the second path.
3. 3. Means for playing a game as claimed in Claim 2, in which the second path is different from the first path.
4. 4. Means for playing a game as claimed in Claim 2, in which the second path is the same as the first path.
5. 5. Means for playing a game as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, in which the rules are such that the actions of a player while travailing along the second path will differ from the actions taken while travailing along the first path in that a player travailing along the second path will be required to give sufficient correct answers to counter the number of negative points or the like that were acquired while travailing along the first path.
6. 6. Means for playing a game as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the questions on the cards are at more than one level of difficulty.
7. 7. Means for playing a game as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the units into which each path is divided are of different colours, with each set of cards relating to a particular subject corresponding to units of a particular colour.
8. 8. Means for playing a game substantially as hereinbefore described.