US20050212207A1

US20050212207A1 - Game board apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20050212207A1
Application number: US10/809,277
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregg Myles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-26
Filing date: 2004-03-26
Publication date: 2005-09-29

Abstract

A game board apparatus having a game board horizontally divided into two sectors representing heaven and hell. The start position is at the bottom of the hell and the finish winning position is situated at the top of the heaven. The players use playing pieces to traverse spaces in the heaven and hell sectors, the amount of advancement being dictated by indicia provided on decks of question cards and answer cards.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a game board apparatus and more particularly, to a game board apparatus for entertaining and demonstrating the benefits of particular moral and religious tenets and beliefs to the players.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many board games have been developed to entertain and, in some cases, to educate. None of the prior games have been directed both to entertaining the players as well as attempting to demonstrate certain moral and religious values. A need exists for such a religious type game in those situations in which it is desirable to demonstrate or reinforce certain moral values, whether in conjunction with religious training or otherwise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the invention to provide a game board apparatus for both entertainment and to demonstrate by way of example of the benefits in following certain moral teachings, which may, for example, be found in the Bible or conform to other established moral tenets. The board game is played by up to four players who move game pieces on a board from a starting point representing hell or satan to the finish, which is a representative of heaven. Each player takes turns to move along the board during a prescribed time period. The game board is divided in half with a hell or satan sector and a heaven sector. A player starts in hell and proceeds upward to heaven. A player moves through certain spaces in the heaven sector which also has spaces leading to the finish.
The players in the game of the invention move in accordance with the dictates of question cards used when the player is in the hell or satan sector or in the heaven sector. The cards generally state questions raising transgressions or moral objectives. When selecting a card from the stack of either hell or satan cards, or heaven cards, the player then selects an answer card, which is, by chance, either yes or no. Dependent on the drawn answers to the questions on the hell or satan or heaven cards, the player may have to move backward toward the starting point or forward to the finish. Thus, the players are exposed to the benefits of certain moral or religious standards, while certain sins or transgressions are not shown to be beneficial by moving a player's progress back in the game, symbolic of the benefits of morality in real life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a card and timer carrier of the board game of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the game board of the board game of the invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, it is noted that the drawings and the descriptions thereof which follow are merely intended to be exemplary of a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to be exhaustive of the possibilities of the games or types of games within the scope of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the timer holder used in game board apparatus of the invention, generally designated by reference numeral 2. Although other constructions other than as shown to carry the timer to be described may be used in the invention, holder 2 is shown as illustration. Holder 2 may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as plastic or a paper product, and includes a cylindrical base 4. The base 4 is provided with flat floor panels 6 and four additional surfaces 8, 10, 12, and 14 carried by vertical walls. The panels 8, 10, 12, and 14 are circumferentially arranged about an upright cylindrical pedestal 16 carried on base 6. The panels 8, 10, 12, and 14 are downwardly sloped. A timer 18 shown as a conventional hour glass containing sand or the like is carried on an upper extension 20 of upright pedestal. The timer 18 may alternatively comprise other timers, such as of a mechanical type or the like (not shown), which can measure a player's time period of play as will be explained.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the board 22 used in the board game of the invention is shown. It is within the scope of the invention to use other designs and representations on the board 22 other than what is specifically shown. The board 22 is formed from a flat panel 24 which may include a fold 26 to permit the board 22 to be folded for storage. Viewing FIG. 2, the board 22 is equally divided, top and bottom into a hell or satan sector 30, representing temptations, sins, and vices faced in life, and a heaven sector 32 indicative of a virtuous life. A start position 34 in the form of a black stone is located in the lower portion of the hell or satan sector 30. A plurality of horizontal lines 36 extending between angularly oriented border lines 38 in hell or satan sector 30 and form spaces 40 on which playing pieces (not shown) of each player move along each individual space as will be described. A number of designs 42, representing various sins to certain groups, such as alcohol, gambling, prostitution, illegal drugs, crime and the like, are positioned in the hell or satan sector 30 outside of border lines 38. Star 44 of a green color and star 46 of a red color designating return spaces in the board game of the invention are located in particular playing spaces 40 a and 40 b.
The heaven sector 32 includes a pair of parallel lines 50, 52 forming the borders of a plurality of horizontal lines 54. The horizontal lines 54 define playing spaces 56 of selected number on which the players move their playing pieces in sequential fashion as will be described. In general, a player starts at the bottom space 34 of the hell sector 30 and continues to move to the heaven sector 32. The top 58 a of the array of spaces 56 represents the finish line for winning in the game board 22 of the invention. The top 58 may be adorned by a gold/silver star 58 a and a fanciful design symbolizing a religious concept of heaven.
The board game herein disclosed is played with four separate decks of flat rectangular cards, including mercy cards (not shown) to be placed on card holder and answer cards (not shown) to be placed on card holder.
The board game is also played with two other decks of cards, referred to as cards of heaven 62, one of which is shown for example in FIG. 4, and cards of hell of satan 64 (see one in FIG. 3), to be placed at areas 68 and 68′ respectively. Alternatively, four sets of the cards, particularly, hell or satan cards 64, heaven cards 62, answer cards and mercy cards, can respectively be places on sloped surfaces 8, 10, 12, and 14 of holder 2 in place of the board areas 60, 61, 68, and 68′, if desired.
The board game of the invention is played by 2, 3, or 4 players.
Ages establish the order in which the players take turns, youngest going first.
The game is played by drawing either hell or satan cards 64 or heaven cards 62 during a player's turn, the duration of which is measured by timer 18, such as for five minutes or other interval. The players each have a playing interval. The players also have a playing piece, such as a figure or other object (not shown) to move along each of the spaces 40 in the hell or satan sector 30 and each of the spaces 61 in the heaven sector 32, unless other wise instructed. The playing pieces are placed at start position 34, and the first player then picks one of the hell or satan cards 64 since the player's first move is through the spaces 56 in the or satan sector 30. The first player picks the top card from the turned over stack of hell or satan cards 64, which generally represent different questions concerning sins or transgressions. After picking a hell or satan card 64, the player then picks the top card from the turned over deck of answer cards which simply have the word “yes” or “no” printed on their face. The answer cards may number, for example, 50 cards, in which “yes” appears on 25 separate cards and “no” respectively appears on the other 25 cards. After pulling the top answer card, it is placed at the bottom of the pile.
During each player's time period, the player keeps drawing hell or satan cards 64 and answer cards which dictate whether the player's piece moves forward, not at all, or backward. Each player's turn ceases upon his time period dictated by the timer 18 ending. After picking the top card from the stack in either sector, the uncovered question card is placed at the bottom of the stack. The players pick hell or satan cards 64 until their pieces reach the heaven sector 32, after which individual heaven cards, directed to virtues, are picked during a player's time period. The player also picks answer cards while drawing heaven cards 62 in the heaven sector during his playing interval. The players keep having playing intervals for as long as the game continues, in the order first determined, if individual players are not disqualified, until a winner is established by reaching the finish 58. Although it is within the scope of the invention that the board game may be played with more cards, the questions on forty hell or satan cards 64 and forty heaven cards 62 are set forth in the following description for the sake of illustration.

Hell or Satan Cards



Card No.:	Written Matter on Card:

1	Would you make a deal with Satan?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 5 spaces.
2	Are you a worldly person?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 8 spaces.
3	Do you believe that there is such a thing as
	eternal damnation?
	Yes: Advance 8 spaces.
	No: Remain on spot.
4	Do you believe in astrological Satanic charts
	for “luck and power”?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 4 spaces.
5	Would you worship Satan in secret?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 3 spaces.
6	Would you like to possess satanic powers?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance 4 spaces.
7	Do you have unclean habits?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 4 spaces.
8	Do you think being a good person will keep
	you from going to hell?
	Yes: Go back 3 spaces.
	No: Advance 7 spaces.
9	Are you a superstitious person?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 4 spaces.
10	Are you a violent person?
	Yes: Remain on spot,
	No: Move ahead 3 spaces.
11	Do you believe Satan is stronger than
	Jesus Christ?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance to first blue star in heaven.
12	Would you worship Satan for money?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance 5 spaces.
13	Would you deface the property of a person of
	another race, that move into your neighborhood?
	Yes: Go back 2 spaces.
	No: Advance 6 spaces.
14	Do you believe a man or woman should have as
	many wives or husbands as they want?
	Yes: Go back 10 spaces.
	No: Advance 10 spaces.
15	Do you believe in magic potions?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 4 spaces.
16	Would you sell your country's defense
	secrets?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance 6 spaces.
17	If cutting off any part of your body would
	give a satanic power, would you do it?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance 7 spaces.
18	Do you like pornography?
	Yes: Go back 4 spaces.
	No: Advance 8 spaces.
19	Do you approve of prostitution?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance 9 spaces.
20	Do you lie?
	Yes: Remain on the spot.
	No: Advance 10 spaces.
21	Are you an alcoholic?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 3 spaces.
22	Would you cheat a person out of anything?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 7 spaces.
23	Do you love money more than anything else?
	Yes: Go back 6 spaces.
	No: Advance 6 spaces.
24	Are you a hateful and nasty person?
	Yes: Remain on spot
	No: Advance 4 spaces.
25	Would you participate in any demonic rituals?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 8 spaces.
26	Do you hold grudges against people?
	Yes: Go back 2 spaces.
	No: Advance 5 spaces.
27	Do you believe there is a place called hell?
	Yes: Advance 5 spaces.
	No: Go back to start.
28	Is vanity top priority in your life?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 2 spaces.
29	Do you believe Satan was once an angel in
	heaven?
	Yes: Advance 4 spaces.
	No: Remain on spot.
30	Are you full of pride?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 2 spaces.
31	Do you enjoy hurting people?
	Yes: Go back 3 spaces.
	No: Advance 8 spaces.
32	Do you have a lustful eye?
	Yes: Go back 4 spaces.
	No: Advance 7 spaces.
33	Do you believe in seances?
	Yes: Go back 3 spaces.
	No: Advance 6 spaces.
34	Do you smile in the face of friends and speak
	badly behind their backs?
	Yes: Go back 5 spaces.
	No: Advance 5 spaces.
35	Are you a drug user?
	Yes: Go back 4 spaces.
	No: Advance 4 spaces.
36	Do you love your material possessions more
	than anything else?
	Yes: Go back 12 spaces.
	No: Advance 12 spaces.
37	Do you celebrate Halloween?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 3 spaces.
38	Do you believe money is more important than
	your personal salvation?
	Yes: Go back 11 spaces.
	No: Advance 11 spaces.
39	Are you a member of any racial hate groups?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance 10 spaces.
40	Are you a self righteous person?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 2 spaces.

Heaven Cards



Card No.:	Written Matter on Card:

1	Do you doubt the power of God?
	Yes: Go back to hell or satan red star.
	No: Advance 6 spaces.
2	Do you have ulterior motives for whatever you
	do for someone?
	Yes: Go back 10 spaces.
	No: Advance 5 spaces.
3	Do you sin constantly and ask for
	forgiveness?
	Yes: Go back to hell or satan red star.
	No: Advance 6 spaces.
4	Do you worship other gods?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance 5 spaces.
5	Have you brought any graven images or
	worshipped any other gods beside Jesus Christ?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance 11 spaces.
6	Do you covet?
	Yes: Go back 2 spaces.
	No: Move ahead 2 spaces.
7	Are you a meek person?
	Yes: Advance 4 spaces.
	No: Remain on spot.
8	Do you honor your parents?
	Yes: Advance 2 heaven stars.
	No: Go back to start.
9	Are you a procrastinator?
	Yes: Go back 7 spaces.
	No: Advance 7 spaces.
10	Do you believe in your heart that the Bible
	is the Word of God?
	Yes: Advance 8 spaces.
	No: Go back to hell or satan green star.
11	Are you a patient person?
	Yes: Advance 7 spaces.
	No: Remain on spot.
12	Do you refuse to admit when you are wrong?
	Yes: Go back 5 spaces.
	No: Advance 5 spaces.
13	Do you pay tithes?
	Yes: Advance 5 spaces.
	No: Go back to hell or satan green star.
14	Have you ever beared false witness against
	your neighbor?
	Yes: Go back to hell or satan red star.
	No: Go ahead 3 spaces.
15	Would you sacrifice whatever was asked of you
	for Christ's sake?
	Yes: Advance 10 spaces.
	No: Go back to start.
16	Do you follow God's word?
	Yes: Advance 7 spaces.
	No: Go back to hell or satan green star.
17	Are you an atheist or communist?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance to next heaven blue star.
18	Have you ever taken the name of the Lord
	thy God in vain?
	Yes: Go back to hell or satan red star.
	No: Advance 3 spaces.
19	Would you give your life in the name of
	Christ?
	Yes: Advance to gold star and enter into the
	kingdom of heaven.
	No: Go back to start.
20	Do you keep the Sabbath Day holy?
	Yes: Advance 4 spaces.
	No: Remain on spot.
21	Would you give your last dollar to others in
	need?
	Yes: Advance 8 spaces.
	No: Remain on your spot.
22	If something you do is a stumbling block to a
	fellow brother or sister in Christ, would you stop it?
	Yes: Advance 6 spaces.
	No: Remain on spot.
23	Do you steal?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance 5 spaces.
24	Do you keep promises that you make?
	Yes: Advance 5 spaces.
	No: Go back 4 spaces.
25	Do you believe Christ will return one day to
	planet earth?
	Yes: Advance 4 spaces.
	No: Go back to start.
26	Do you attend church?
	Yes: Advance 5 spaces.
	No: Remain on spot.
27	Are you a God fearing person?
	Yes: Advance 6 spaces.
	No: Go back to hell or satan green star.
28	Are you a compassionate person?
	Yes: Advance to next heaven blue star.
	No: Remain on spot.
29	Should you be afraid of death?
	Yes: Remain on spot.
	No: Advance 3 spaces.
30	Do you pray daily?
	Yes: Advance 4 spaces.
	No: Go back 2 spaces.
31	Do you love your enemies?
	Yes: Advance 10 spaces.
	No: Go back to hell or satan green star.
32	Have you been baptized?
	Yes: Advance 4 spaces.
	No: Remain on spot.
33	Would you treat a wealthy person better than
	you would treat a poor person?
	Yes: Go back 5 spaces.
	No: Advance 8 spaces.
34	Do you have faith in God?
	Yes: Advance 2 heaven blue stars.
	No: Go back to hell or satan green star.
35	Do you despise the poor?
	Yes: Go back to hell or satan red star.
	No: Advance 6 spaces.
36	Would you interfere with your spouses
	willingness to serve God?
	Yes: Go back to hell or satan red star.
	No: Advance 10 spaces.
37	Would you denounce Christ to save your life?
	Yes: Go back to start.
	No: Advance 10 spaces.
38	Is Christ first in your life?
	Yes: Advance to next heaven blue star.
	No: Go back to hell or satan green star.
39	Do you believe Mary is the mother of Christ?
	Yes: Advance 7 spaces.
	No: Go back 12 spaces.
40	Do you believe demons exist?
	Yes: Advance 3 spaces.
	No: Remain on spot.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that certain sins of the hell or satan sector cards and virtues of the heaven cards may not be universally acceptable to all groups or individuals. It is within the scope of the invention to vary the questions of the heaven and hell or satan cards as is appropriate to accommodate the differing moral standards of the wide range of groups or individuals to which the game board invention is intended. The moves backward or forward as set forth continues during each player's time interval. The players continue to play until the first player reaches the gold/silver star at the finish to win the game, or the player is disqualified as will be explained.
Disqualification of a player may occur by drawing selective cards from the stack of mercy cards (not shown) at the end of his or her playing time as established by timer 18. There are thirty one cards in the mercy stack, including twenty “second chance” cards (stating that the player receives a second chance in life), ten death cards, and one rapture card. A player whose playing piece is still in the hell or satan sector 30 when his playing time expires, must take the top one of the stack of mercy cards. If one of the ten death cards are drawn, that player is immediately disqualified. If the rapture card is drawn, symbolic of being raptured or “caught up” to be with the Lord, the player automatically wins the game. The ten death cards may have imprinted on them different causes of death in life, such as, heart attack, victim of a crime, automobile accident, illness, and the like. Finally, if the player drawing from the deck of mercy cards by chance picks one of the twenty “second chance” cards, he may continue playing when it is his turn again. Mercy cards are not drawn if the player's piece is in the heaven sector when his playing time has expired.

Claims

1. A game board apparatus to be played by a plurality of players during respective times of play comprising

a game board being horizontally divided into a bottom sector representing hell and a top sector representing heaven,

said first sector being divided into a plurality of playing spaces and said second sector being divided into a plurality of playing spaces, a starting position being disposed at one end of said plurality of playing spaces of said first sector and a finish position being disposed at the end of said plurality of spaces of said second sector, said spaces of said first sector and second sector being arranged between said starting position and said game finish, said spaces of said first and second sectors to be traversed in series by a playing piece of a player,

questions cards to be drawn at random when a playing piece is in one of said spaces in said first and second sectors, said question cards having questions and answers of yes or no, said question cards further specifying alternative moves for a player along said playing spaces of said first and second sector in accordance with either a respective yes or no answer, and

a deck of answer cards each having indicia respectively indicating yes or no, said answer cards being drawn by chance during play after one of said question cards is drawn to indicate the extent of movement along said playing spaces of said first sector and said second sector.

2. The game board apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising timer means for timing the predetermined playing interval of an individual player.

3. The game board apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a deck of mercy cards, said mercy cards being drawn by chance when the playing piece of a player is in the first sector when said predetermined playing interval expires, some of said mercy cards having imprinted indicia indicating disqualification of the player drawing the card and others of said mercy card having imprinted indicia permitting continued play by the player drawing the card.

4. The game board apparatus of claim 3 wherein said deck of mercy cards further having at least one card having imprinted indicia allowing the player to immediately move to said game finish.

5. The game board apparatus of claim 4 wherein said question cards include a deck of first cards to be drawn by chance in said first sector, the questions imprinted on said first cards respectively pertaining generally to moral transgressions, said question cards further include second cards to be drawn by chance in said second sector, the questions imprinted on said second cards respectively pertaining generally to moral virtues.