US20050184460A1

US20050184460A1 - Board game and method of playing same

Info

Publication number: US20050184460A1
Application number: US11/063,124
Authority: US
Inventors: Lisa Hockenbrocht
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-20
Filing date: 2005-02-22
Publication date: 2005-08-25

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the invention include board games and methods of playing board games, which are both educational and entertaining with regard to the solar system and which are designed to be played with two or more players.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/546,563, filed on Feb. 20, 2004, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to board games that are both entertaining and educational with regard to the solar system (sun and planets) and other celestial bodies, for example, as well as methods of playing such board games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the invention include board games and methods of playing board games, which are both educational and entertaining with regard to the solar system and which are designed to be played with two or more players. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of playing a game comprises providing a play path having a sequence a discrete spaces that include a beginning space, and ending space, and a plurality of planet spaces including at least one planet space for each of nine planets of the solar system. Starting from the beginning space, a plurality of players take turns traversing the play path in random directions. The players try to obtain planet tokens while traversing the play path with an ultimate goal of obtaining a complete set of planet tokens including one planet token for each of the nine planets. Planet tokens can be obtained in one of various manners such as advancing to a planet space to obtain an associated planet token. A player will win the game by advancing to the ending space while having a complete set of planet tokens.
In one exemplary embodiment, a game apparatus for playing the exemplary game includes a game board having a plurality of paths marked thereon. The paths include a primary path and a plurality of secondary paths, wherein the primary path and secondary paths comprise sequences of discrete spaces. The primary path comprises a continuous sequence of discrete spaces including a beginning space and an end space. Each secondary path diverges from the primary path or another secondary path. At least one secondary path comprises a connecting space, which connects to a discrete space of the primary path or another secondary path, and a planet space corresponding to a planet of the solar system. The exemplary game apparatus further includes a plurality of player space markers, which are used by players to mark a current space along a path during course of play, a random number determining means for a player to randomly determine a number during course of play, and a plurality of sets of planet tokens, each set comprising nine planet tokens each representing one of nine planets of the solar system, which are collected by players during the course of play.
In another exemplary embodiment, the game apparatus includes at least nine secondary paths each having a planet space corresponding to one of the nine planets of the solar system. Each of the at least nine secondary path can terminate with the associated planet space. The planet spaces may comprise graphical illustrations of the corresponding planets.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more of the secondary paths of the game board includes a chance space, wherein the chance space instructs a player to take a certain action depending on a number that is determined using the random number determining means. For example, the chance space can instruct a player to advance to a planet space, or collect a desired planet token, or lose a planet token possessed by the player.
In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, the discrete spaces of the primary and/or secondary paths may include one or more instruction spaces that direct a player to take some action when the player advances to the instruction space. For instance, the instruction space may direct a player to advance to a planet space, or direct a player to collect a planet token that is possessed by another player, or direct a player to lose a planet token possessed by the player, or direct a player to advance to a chance space.
These and other exemplary embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will be described or become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a game board according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate planet tokens according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates a player space marker according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates a random number determining device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention include board games and methods of playing board games, which are both educational and entertaining with regard to the solar system and which are designed to be played with two or more players. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a game includes a game board (such as depicted in FIG. 1), a plurality of planet tokens (e.g., planet cards as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B), a plurality of player space markers (or game pieces) in the form of a space entity or object, (e.g., a space shuttle piece (40) such as depicted in FIG. 3, wherein a plurality of different color space shuttle pieces are included for multiple players), and a random number determining device (e.g., a die shaking device (50) such as depicted in FIG. 4).
More specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a game board (10) according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which in general, includes an exemplary depiction of outer space or the solar system, and has marked thereon, a plurality of celestial bodies and space objects and a plurality of paths that lead to the different celestial bodies and space objects. In particular, the exemplary game board (10) of FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of paths that comprise sequences of discrete spaces. For example, the board (10) comprises a primary path (11) (denoted by the dotted lines) including a sequence of discrete spaces including and between a “Start” space (12) and a “Finish” space (13) (which, as shown in FIG. 1, are depicted as being part of a “Spacestation”).
Moreover, the board (10) comprises one or more secondary paths including secondary paths (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24) and (25) that diverge from the main path (11) and a secondary path (26) that diverges from another secondary path (24). In the exemplary embodiment, the secondary paths (19), (17), (22), (15), (20), (16), (23), (26) and (25) include planet spaces Mercury (1), Venus (2), Earth (3), Mars (4), Jupiter (5), Saturn (6), Uranus (7), Neptune (8) and Pluto (9), respectively. In the exemplary embodiment, the planet spaces comprise graphical illustrations of the actual planets, although the planet spaces (1)˜(9) may be depicted in other forms.
The secondary paths (14), (18) and (24) include respective “chance” spaces (27), (28) and (29). In one exemplary embodiment, as explained below, a chance space instructs a player to take a certain action depending on a number that is randomly determined using a random number determining means (e.g., pair of dice). In one exemplary embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the chance spaces are named using different celestial bodies or space objects or space entities, e.g., the chance space (27) is named as “Halley's Comet”, the chance space (28) is named “The Asteroid”, and the chance space (29) is named “The Alien Spacecraft”, and corresponding graphical depictions of such space bodies or objects are depicted adjacent such chance spaces. Further, the secondary path (21) comprises a “Lose Your Next Turn” space (30) which is named as “The Black Hole”.
In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, each secondary path (14-26) is depicted as a sequence of discrete spaces including one connecting space that connects to a space on the primary path (11) or another secondary path, and a termination space corresponding to a planet space, chance space, or lose next turn space, for example. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be envisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art wherein, e.g., one or more secondary paths have two connecting spaces that connect to different spaces on the primary path, or connect to the primary path and another second path, or that connect to two different secondary paths, etc.
The game board further comprises an area (31) for placement of planet tokens (e.g., game playing cards). The planet cards may be disposed in a card divider device. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate planet tokens according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention wherein the planet tokens comprise “Planet Cards”. In particular, in one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the board game comprises multiple sets of planet tokens, each set comprising one planet token representing one of the nine planets of the solar system. For instance, FIG. 2A illustrates a front side of a set of Planet Cards depicting each of the nine planets in our solar system (Mercury 1, Venus 2, Earth 3, Mars 4, Jupiter 5, Saturn 6, Uranus 7, Neptune 8 and Pluto 9). FIG. 2B illustrates a back side of each of the corresponding Planet Cards of FIG. 2 a, wherein the back sides include information and facts regarding the associated planet. In one exemplary embodiment, the game includes at least one set of Planet Cards for each player in the game. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, the planet tokens may be embodied in other forms, such as coins or other pieces that depict or represent the different planets.
In general, an object of a game according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention is to be the first player to collect all nine planet tokens (e.g., one set of Planet cards) and reach the “Finish” space (13) at the “Spacestation”. More specifically, beginning at the “Start” space (12) on the “Spacestation”, each player will take turns rolling the dice (two dies) (or shaking/popping the dice within the exemplary shaker/popper of FIG. 4) and using their respective game pieces to traverse the various game board paths (in any direction) according to the number of spaces indicated by the dice, to thereby collect all nine Planet cards before reaching the “Finish” space (13) at the “Spacestation”. As explained in further detail below, there are various ways in which a player can collect a planet card or even lose a planet card. In any event, to win the game, the first player to “orbit” space (traverse the paths) to collect all nine planet cards and return to the Spacestation “Finish” space (13) will win the game.
Details regarding a board game and methods of playing the board game according to various exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1-4, although it is to be understood that such details should not be construed as placing any limitation on the scope of the invention. Indeed, those of ordinary skill in the art can readily envision other board game features and methods of playing such board games based on the teachings herein.
To start playing, a game board according to the invention (such as depicted in FIG. 1) is opened and placed on a flat surface. The planet tokens (e.g., the exemplary Planet cards as depicted in FIGS. 2A-B) are placed in a card divider, for example, and the card divider (or only the Planet cards) is placed on the board game in the space (31) indicated as “Cards Go Here”, as depicted in FIG. 1. Each player will select a different game piece (e.g., a different color space shuttle token (40) such as depicted in FIG. 3) and place the game piece at the “Start” space (12) on the game board. In addition, the exemplary dice shaker/popper (50) of FIG. 4 can be placed on the game board in the area depicted as the “Sun” near the “Spacestation”.
Then, each player rolls/shakes/pops the dice to determine which player goes first. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the dice comprise two separate die pieces, each die being cube-shaped with 6 surfaces, wherein each surface comprises a number (or dots) from 1-6. The “number rolled” as indicated by the dice is determined by adding the numbers indicated on the upper surfaces of each die after they are rolled/shaked/popped. The player with the highest “number rolled” goes first. The game then continues to the left of the starting player.
Each player will then take turns rolling (or shaking/popping) the dice and move their respective game pieces the number of spaces along the paths based on the number rolled as indicated by the dice. When traversing the paths, a player can move in any direction along the paths, but only in one direction per each roll of the dice. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, if a player lands on a space that is occupied by another player, the player will move ahead one extra space in the direction that the player was moving. In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the multiple players can occupy the same space.
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, when a player rolls a double (each die shows the same number), the player is entitled to another roll (second roll). Moreover, if the player rolls another double, the player is entitled to yet another roll of the dice (third roll). In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the players turn will continue as the player consecutively rolls doubles. In another embodiment of the invention, a third consecutive roll of doubles results in a penalty. For instance, if the player consecutively rolls 3 doubles (or any predetermined number), the player's turn immediately ends and the player will lose his/her next turn in the rotation. In yet another embodiment of the invention, if a player rolls a double and lands on a space indicated by “Lose a Turn”, the player will lose his/her next double roll and the player's turn ends.
As noted above, an object of the game is to traverse the game board paths to collect all nine planet tokens (e.g., Planet cards), and the first player to collect all nine Planet tokens and return to the Spacestation “Finish” space (13) wins the game. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention, there are various ways in which a player can collect Planet cards. For instance, a player can collect a Planet card by traversing the paths to advance to a Planet space, Mercury (1), Venus (2), Earth (3), Mars (4), Jupiter (5), Saturn (6), Uranus (7), Neptune (8) and Pluto (9). In one exemplary embodiment, the “number rolled” does not have to be exactly the same as the number of spaces needed to reach a Planet space - the number rolled only needs to be high enough to reach a Planet space (although in other exemplary embodiments of the invention, the number rolled has to be the same as the number of spaces needed to reach a Planet space.)
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, each player is allowed to have only one of each of the Planet cards at a given time (although in other embodiments of the invention, each player may be allowed to have two or more of the same Planet Cards at the same time). If a player lands on a Planet space and does not take a Planet card and the next player has rolled the dice, the player must leave the Planet space and go back to get that Planet card again.
Moreover, a player can collect a Planet card by advancing to particular game board spaces referred to as “instruction” spaces, which instruct the player to take certain actions. For instance, as depicted in FIG. 1, instructions spaces include “Go to Planet” space, which instructs the player to move his/her game piece to the specified Planet space, in which case the user can collect the corresponding Planet card. In one embodiment of the invention, if the player already has the given Planet card, the user may or may not have to move to the Planet space as instructed, depending on the specified rules of the game.
Moreover, a player can collect a Planet card by advancing to a board game instruction space that instructs the player to “Take a Planet Card From Any Player”. For instance, in one embodiment of the invention, this allows the player to take a Planet card of choice from any other player provided, for example, the player does not have the Planet card. In another embodiment of the invention, the instruction space “Take a Planet Card From Any Player” entitles the player to take a Planet card from any other player and place it back in the divider. In this regard, each player has knowledge of all planet cards that are held by all other players, and each player will maintain his/her set of Planet cards such that the cards are visible to other players.
Furthermore, if a player advances to a game board instruction space that specifies “Take Any One Planet Card From the Divider”, the player is entitled to take any one Planet card of his/her choice from the Divider, which the player does not have.
In other embodiments of the invention, a player can potentially collect a Planet card by advancing to one of the chance spaces, e.g., “Halley's Comet” chance space (27), “The Asteroid” chance space (28) or “The Alien Spacecraft” chance space (29), as illustrated in the exemplary game board embodiment of FIG. 1.
For instance, if a player advances to the “Halley's Comet” chance space (27), the player will roll the dice and perform a certain action based on the number rolled as specified in the game board space. For instance, in one exemplary embodiment, if number rolled is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, the player will move to the Planet space indicated by the number rolled (e.g., if the player rolls a 4, the player will move to the Planet space, Mars (4)). If the number rolled is a 10, 11 or 12, the player will move ahead that many spaces on the board. In one embodiment, rolling doubles while on the “Halley's Comet” chance space (27) will not entitle the player to another roll of the dice.
A player can advance to the “Halley's Comet” chance space (27) from a current space by (i) rolling number that is the same or larger than the number of spaces needed to reach the “Halley° Comet” chance space (27) from the current space, (ii) by landing on a game board instruction space that instructs the player to “Slide to Halley's Comet”, or by (ii) landing on a game board instruction space that instructs the player to go to such chance space, e.g., “Go to Halley's Comet and Hitch a Ride”, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Similarly, if a player advances to “The Asteroid” chance space (28), the player will roll the dice and perform a certain action based on the number rolled as specified in the chance space. For instance, in one exemplary embodiment as depicted in FIG.1, if number rolled is a 2, 3, or 4, the player will lose a Planet card of his/her choice (or a Planet card corresponding to the number rolled, if the player has such card). If the number rolled is a 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, the player will lose two Planet cards of his/her choice (or one or two Planet cards corresponding to 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, if the player has such card(s)). If the number rolled in 10, 11 or 12, the player can select a Planet card of his/her choice from the divider. In one embodiment, rolling doubles while on the “The Asteroid” chance space (28) will not entitle the player to another roll of the dice.
A player can reach “The Asteroid” chance space (28) from a current space by (i) rolling number that is the same or larger than the number of spaces needed to reach the “The Asteroid” chance space (28) from the current space, (ii) by landing on a game board instruction space that instructs the player to “Slide to The Asteroid”, or by (ii) landing on a game board instruction space that instructs the player to go to such chance space, e.g., “An Asteroid Has Hit You, Go to the Asteroid”, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Moreover, if a player advances to “The Alien Spacecraft” chance space (29), the player will roll the dice and perform a certain action based on the number rolled as specified in the game board space. For instance, in one exemplary embodiment, if number rolled is a 2, 3, or 4, the player will lose his/her next turn. If the number rolled is a 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, the player can move to a particular Planet space, e.g., Mars (4), or a Planet space corresponding to the number rolled. If the number rolled in 10, 11 or 12, the player will move ahead that many spaces (can select a Planet card of his/her choice from the divider. In one embodiment, rolling doubles while on “The Alien Spacecraft” chance space (29) will not entitle the player to another roll of the dice.
A player can advance to “The Alien Spacecraft” chance space (29) from a current space by (i) rolling number that is the same or larger than the number of spaces needed to reach “The Alien Spacecraft” space from the current space, (ii) by landing on a game board instruction space that instructs the player to “Slide to Alien Spacecraft”, or by (ii) landing on a game board instruction space that instructs the player to go to such chance space, e.g., “Go To The Alien Spacecraft, You Have Been Beamed Up”, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
The exemplary game board of FIG. 1 comprises game board instruction spaces that direct players to perform other types of actions. For example, an instruction space can force a player to move to the “Black Hole” space (30), whereby the player will lose his/her next turn. A player may be forced to move to the “Black Hole” space (30) by advancing to a game board instruction space that instructs the player to, e.g., “Side to Black Hole” or “Go to Black Hole”, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a player will lose his/her next turn if the player advances to a “Lose A Turn” instruction space. Moreover, if the player advances to a “Lose a Planet” instruction space, the player must relinquish a Planet card of his/her choice and place the Planet card back in the divider. Further, if a player advances to an instruction space that indicates “Go Back [specified number] Spaces”, the player must move back the specified number of spaces.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, while a player is on a given game board space, e.g., “The Asteroid” chance space (28), the “Black Hole” space (30) or a “Lose a Turn” space, an opponent cannot take a Planet card from that player if, for example, the opponent lands on a “Take a Planet Card From Any Player” instruction space.
It is to be appreciated that a board game according to an exemplary embodiment is educational with respect to the solar system. For instance, as depicted in FIG. 2B, each of the Planet cards comprises a plurality of facts and/or “Factoids” regarding the respective planets. For example, in one exemplary embodiment of the invention, each set of Planet Cards for a given planet will have one or more of the same “facts” for the given planet written on the back of the card, as well as a unique “Factoid”. For example, the following provides exemplary facts and Factoids that can be included on the back of the respective Planet card.
Mercury 1
Facts

- Mercury is the first planet closest to the sun.
- Mercury's distance from the sun is about 36 million miles.
- It takes only 88 earth days for Mercury to orbit the sun.

Factoid
1. Mercury does not have any moons.
2. Mercury does not have an atmosphere so weather does not change its surface features.
3. Mercury is made up of rock and metal
4. Mercury is the fastest planet to orbit the sun.
5. During the daylight, Mercury is so hot that it could melt lead
6. During the night, Mercury is as cold as liquid nitrogen and is about 300 degrees F. below zero.
7. Mercury's surface is covered with craters.
8. In 1974 the only spacecraft, the Mariner 10, took pictures of Mercury.
Venus 2
Facts

- Venus is the second planet from the sun.
- Venus' distance from the sun is about 67 million miles.
- It takes about 225 earth days for Venus to orbit the sun.
  Factoid

1. Venus spins in the opposite direction to earth.
2. Venus does not have any moons.
3. Venus was once called the earth's sister planet because of its closeness in size.
4. Venus has been referred to as the evening and morning star because of its brightness.
5. Venus has erupting volcanoes.
6. On Venus, the atmosphere is so deadly that the heat would crush you.
7. Venus comes closer to earth than any other planet.
8. Venus is the brightest planet.
Earth 3
Facts

- The Earth is the third planet from the sun.
- The Earth's distance from the sun is about 93 million miles.
- The Earth orbits the sun in 365 ¼ days which makes up a year.

Factoid
1. The Earth is the only planet with life on it. This is where we live.
2. The Earth has only one moon.
3. The Earth spins counterclockwise around the sun.
4. 70% of the Earth's surface is made up of water.
5. The Earth's moon takes 27 days to orbit the Earth.
6. The Earth's moon is the first for man (Neil Armstrong) to set foot on in 1969.
7. The Apollo II was the first spacecraft to touch down on the moon in 1969.
8. 365 days and 6 hours make up one full year on Earth.
Mars 4
Facts

- Mars is the fourth planet from the sun.
- The distance from the sun is about 141 million miles.
- It takes almost twice as long as Earth to orbit the sun, about 687 days.

Factoid
1. Mars has two moons.
2. Mars is called “The Red Planet”. Most of Mars is a red desert.
3. Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system called Olympus Mons.
4. Mars has a day almost the same as Earth's. It lasts 24 hours and 37 minutes.
5. In 1976 two U.S. Viking Crafts soft landed on Mars taking soil samples and pictures.
6. Mars has a red or rust color due to the rust in the rocks and soil.
7. Mars is the only planet that could possibly have life on it.
8. The atmosphere of Mars is mostly made up of carbon dioxide.
Jupiter 5
Facts

- Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun.
- The distance to the sun is about 483 million miles.
- It takes almost 12 earth years to orbit the sun

Factoid
1. Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system.
2. Jupiter has 16 moons.
3. Jupiter is mostly made up of gases
4. Some of the gases form a giant red circle called “The Great Red Spot”.
5. At “The Great Red Spot”, a hurricane has formed at least 325 years ago.
6. Jupiter has one thin ring around it.
7. Jupiter's atmosphere is about 90% hydrogen and 10% helium.
8. Jupiter's four largest moons are known as the “Galilean Satellites”.
Saturn 6
Facts

- Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun.
- Its distance from the sun is 887 million miles.
- Saturn takes about 29 2 Earth years to orbit the sun.

Factoid
1. Saturn has at least 24 moons, maybe more.
2. Saturn is circled by beautiful rings made of dust, rocks and chucks of ice.
3. Saturn's atmosphere is mainly hydrogen and helium gases.
4. Saturn's largest moon is Titan.
5. On Saturn it is extremely cold.
6. Saturn is made up of mostly gas and clouds, it would float in water if a large enough ocean could be found.
7. Pioneer II in 1979 provided us with the first close-up view of the planet and its moons.
8. Voyager 1 is 1980 and Voyager 2 in 1981 discovered several new moons and thousands of “Ringlets” around Saturn.
Uranus 7
Facts

- Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun.
- The distance from the sun is about 1.8 billion miles.
- It takes 84 Earth years to orbit the sun.

Factoid
1. Uranus has 15 moons.
2. Uranus spins on its side.
3. Uranus has at least 11 black rings around it.
4. In 1986 Voyager 2 moved in close enough and got the best view yet of the planet.
5. The Voyager 2 observed that Uranus has a very faint set of rings.
6. Uranus' atmosphere is composed of hydrogen, helium and methane.
7. Uranus is four times the size of the earth.
8. Uranus appears to be a plane greenish in color.
Neptune 8
Facts

- Neptune is usually the eighth planet from the sun.
- The distance from the sun is about 2.8 billion miles.
- It takes 164 years to orbit the sun.

Factoid
1. Neptune has 8 moons.
2. In August 1989, the Voyager 2 flew past Neptune. It discovered 6 more moons making it 8 moons.
3. Neptune has 4 to 5 rings around it.
4. Neptune is the windiest planet in our solar system.
5. Neptune looks blue in color due to a gas called methane.
6. Neptune's largest moon is called Triton.
7. Neptune's largest moon, Triton, orbits in the opposite direction to all other moons.
8. Neptune has a dark patch floating in its blue atmosphere. It has been named “The Great Dark Spot”.
Pluto 9
Facts

- Pluto is usually the ninth planet from the sun.
- Pluto is about 3.6 billion miles from the sun.
- It takes about 248 Earth years to orbit the sun.

Factoid
1. Pluto has only 1 moon.
2. Pluto is the darkest planet.
3. Pluto's moon is called Charon and is half the size of Pluto.
4. Pluto's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and methane.
5. Pluto is the smallest planet.
6. Pluto is the coldest planet.
7. Pluto is covered with ice.
8. Every 20 years, Pluto and Neptune switch places.
9. In 1999 Pluto regained it's “ninth” title.
The planet facts and factoids may be included solely for purposes of educational reading during the course of play. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, planet facts and factoids may be part of the game in the sense that a player must correctly answer a question regarding a planet when landing on a planet space before acquiring the planet card, for example. One of ordinary skill in the art can readily envision other means for implementing planet facts and factoids for purposes of game play according to the invention.
Although illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise system and method embodiments described herein, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A game apparatus, comprising:

a game board comprising a plurality of paths marked thereon, the paths comprising a primary path and a plurality of secondary paths, wherein the primary path and secondary paths comprise sequences of discrete spaces, wherein the primary path comprises a continuous sequence of discrete spaces including a beginning space and an end space, wherein each secondary path diverges from the primary path or another secondary path, and wherein at least one secondary path comprises a connecting space, which connects to a discrete space of the primary path or another secondary path, and a planet space corresponding to a planet of the solar system;

a plurality of player space markers, which are used by players to mark a current space along a path during course of play;

random number determining means for a player to randomly determine a number during course of play; and

a plurality of sets of planet tokens, each set comprising nine planet tokens each representing one of nine planets of the solar system, which are collected by players during the course of play.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game board comprises at least nine secondary paths each comprising a planet space corresponding to one of the nine planets of the solar system.

3. The game apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the at least nine secondary path terminates with the associated planet space.

4. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one secondary path of the game board comprises a chance space, wherein the chance space instructs a player to take a certain action depending on a number that is determined using the random number determining means.

5. The game apparatus of claim 4, wherein the chance space instructs a player to advance to a planet space.

6. The game apparatus of claim 4, wherein the chance space instructs a player to collect a desired planet token.

7. The game apparatus of claim 4, wherein the chance space instructs a player to lose a planet token possessed by the player.

8. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the planet space comprises a graphical depiction of the associated planet.

9. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discrete spaces include one or more instruction spaces that direct a player to take some action.

10. The game apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one instruction space directs a player to advance to a planet space.

11. The game apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one instruction space directs a player to collect a planet token that is possessed by another player.

12. The game apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one instruction space directs a player to lose a planet token possessed-by the player.

13. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the planet tokens comprise playing cards that include graphical depictions of the planets.

14. A method of playing a game, comprising the steps of:

providing a play path comprising a sequence a discrete spaces including a beginning space, and ending space, and a plurality of planet spaces including at least one planet space for each of nine planets of the solar system;

starting from the beginning space, a plurality of players taking turns traversing the play path in random directions;

obtaining planet tokens while traversing the play path to obtain a complete set of planet tokens including one planet token for each of the nine planets, wherein obtaining planet tokens comprises advancing to a planet space to obtain an associated planet token; and

a player winning the game by advancing to the ending space while having a complete set of planet tokens.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein obtaining planet tokens comprises advancing to an instruction space in the path having an instruction to collect a planet token.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the instruction to collect a planet token comprises an instruction for the player to take a planet token from another player.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

a player advancing to a chance space;

the player determining a random number; and

instructing the player to perform a certain action depending on the random number determined.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein instructing the player to perform a certain action depending on the random number determined comprises instructing the player to collect or lose a planet token.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein instructing the player to perform a certain action depending on the random number determined comprises instructing the player to advance to another space in the path.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a play path comprises providing a game board with the play path marked thereon.