US20150174474A1

US20150174474A1 - Music Trivia Board Game

Info

Publication number: US20150174474A1
Application number: US14/575,700
Authority: US
Inventors: Silko Renaldo Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-12-19
Filing date: 2014-12-18
Publication date: 2015-06-25

Abstract

A music trivia game having a music trivia game board, timer, die, plurality of game pieces, and plurality of trivia cards. A plurality of game space sequences each have a first genre space, second genre space, third genre space, fourth genre space, fifth genre space, and category space corresponding to a first set of genre cards, second set of genre cards, third set of genre cards, fourth set of genre cards, fifth set of genre cards, and set of category cards, respectively, from the plurality of trivia cards. The plurality of game space sequences is positioned about a main path, first bypass route, and second bypass route, wherein the object of the music trivia game is to move a designated game piece from a start space to a finish space along the main path by rolling the die and answering a music trivia question corresponding to each game space.

Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/918,406 filed on Dec. 19, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to board games. More specifically, the present invention is a music trivia board game and method of game play for entertaining and educating players in the field of music history.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Popular music has exponentially evolved within the past half century as forms of media and the sharing of forms of music has transcended worldwide. Music has continued to develop new trends and subcategories as music artists use techniques from past, present and future to create new sounds, songs, albums and compilations. As music has gained a wide following and enhanced popularity, technology has also allowed for music to be received, listened to and enjoyed in various different forms. While music has expanded to easy downloads and access via mobile devices and the Internet, music history and previously popular songs, albums and artists can become difficult to spread toward younger generations and other new listeners.
Therefore it is the object of the present invention to provide a music trivia game to entertain and educate individuals on music history through trivia. The present invention provides a music trivia game board and a plurality of trivia cards each having a music trivia question. Players move a designated game piece about the music trivia game board by rolling a die, moving the designated game piece a number of spaces, and answering the music trivia question printed from a set of cards corresponding to the game space on which the designated game piece landed. The present invention is intended to create an enjoyable learning experience to the users of the board game, and allow fans of popular music to display their knowledge and possibly learn new music-related facts along the way. Each of the plurality of trivia cards has a music trivia question pertaining to a different genre or category in an effort to entertain and educate users on different periods and genres of music including rhythm and blues, soundtracks, Apollo, Motown and Hip-Hop among other categories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting a music trivia game board, timer, die, plurality of game pieces, and plurality of trivia cards for playing a music trivia game.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting the music trivia game board, wherein a main path is outlined.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting the music trivia game board, wherein a first bypass route is outlined.

FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting the music trivia game board, wherein a second bypass route is outlined.

FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting the music trivia game board, wherein a joint bypass route is outlined.

FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting the music trivia game board, wherein a plurality of game space sequences is outlined.

FIG. 7 is a diagram depicting the plurality of trivia cards having a first set of genre cards, a second set of genre cards, a third set of genre cards, a fourth set of genre cards, a fifth set of genre cards, and a set of category cards.

FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting the music trivia game, wherein a designated game piece is moved a number of spaces about the music trivia game board and a designated card is drawn from the plurality of trivia cards.

FIG. 9 is a diagram depicting the music trivia game, wherein the designated game piece is on a first bypass access space, and wherein an electronic device is used to scan a first coded space.

FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting the music trivia game, wherein the designated game piece is on a finish space and a final card is drawn from the plurality of trivia cards.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart depicting the steps for playing the music trivia game;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart thereof, further depicting steps for answering a music trivia question;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart thereof, further depicting steps for answering the music trivia question when the designated game piece lands on the first bypass access space;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart thereof, further depicting steps for answering the music trivia question when the designated game piece lands on a second bypass access space; and

FIG. 15 is a flowchart thereof, further depicting steps for moving the designated game piece a subsequent number of spaces, if the music trivia question is correctly answered.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a music trivia game and a method of game play thereof, to entertain and educate players through music history trivia. The present invention is intended to first entertain and then to educate players as to the complexity of where music came from and how it has evolved. The present invention insights an overall mission to bring together different generations of players and give the players a forum in which to interact with each other on a social level through music.
In reference to FIG. 1, the music trivia game includes a music trivia game board 1, a timer 2, a die 3, a plurality of game pieces 4, and a plurality of trivia cards 5. The objective of the music trivia game is to move across the music trivia game board 1 as efficiently as possible from a start space 111 and a finish space 112 on the music trivia game board 1, while answering questions in reference to five genres (each depicted by a city), and four unique categories displayed on the music trivia game board 1. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the player who reaches the finish space 112 first and correctly answers a final trivia question is declared the winner. The music trivia game is described as a game that takes participants on a time travel trip from past to present, entertaining and educating all at the same time.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the music trivia game is intended to be played with two to five players, and as such the plurality of game pieces 4 is specifically five game pieces. It is possible for more or less game pieces to be used in other embodiments of the present invention. Players may control a game piece individually, or players may team up, wherein multiple players control a single game piece.
The music trivia game board 1 includes a plurality of game space sequences 10 depicted in FIG. 6, a main path 11 outlined in FIG. 2, a first bypass route 12 outlined in FIG. 3, and a second bypass route 13 outlined in FIG. 4; the main path 11, the first bypass route 12, and the second bypass route 13 forming the overall game play path of the music trivia game. The main path 11, the first bypass route 12, and the second bypass route 13 can be printed onto the music trivia game board 1, inscribed on the music trivia game board 1, or presented in any other way about the music trivia game board 1. The plurality of game space sequences 10 is positioned along the main path 11, the first bypass route 12, and the second bypass route 13, wherein each of the plurality of game space sequences 10 provides specific game spaces corresponding to specific card sets from the plurality of trivia cards 5.
Additionally, the main path 11 includes the start space 111 and the finish space 112 depicted in FIG. 2, while the first bypass route 12 includes a first bypass access space 121 and a terminal end 14 depicted in FIG. 3, and the second bypass route 13 includes a second bypass access space 131 and a terminal end 14 depicted in FIG. 4. The start space 111 and the finish space 112 are positioned opposite each other along the main path 11, wherein the start space 111 designates the initial placement of the plurality of game pieces 4 before game play begins, and the finish space 112 designates the space on which a player must land in order to win the music trivia game by traveling around the main path 11. The first bypass route 12 and the second bypass route 13 provide shortcuts about which a player may bypass a portion of the main path 11 if the player lands on the first bypass access space 121 or the second bypass access space 131 and correctly answers a question.
In reference to FIG. 3, the first bypass access space 121 and the terminal end 14 of the first bypass route 12 are positioned opposite each other along the first bypass route 12. Similarly, in reference to FIG. 4, the second bypass access space 131 and the terminal end 14 of the second bypass route 13 are positioned opposite each other along the second bypass route 13. The first bypass access space 121 and the second bypass access space 131 are integrated into the main path 11, wherein a player may land on either the first bypass access space 121 or the second bypass access space 131 by traveling around the plurality of game space sequences 10 of the main path 11. The terminal end 14 of the first bypass route 12 and the terminal end 14 of the second bypass route 13 are both adjacently connected to the main path 11, wherein upon traveling about the plurality of game space sequences 10 of the first bypass route 12 or the second bypass route 13, the player is returned to the main path 11.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first bypass route 12 and the second bypass route 13 converge into a joint bypass route 15 as depicted in FIG. 5, wherein the terminal end 14 of both the first bypass route 12 and the second bypass route 13 connects to the main path 11 at the same point. It is also possible for the first bypass route 12 and the second bypass route 13 to be two standalone paths, wherein the terminal end 14 of the first bypass route 12 and the terminal end 14 of the second bypass route 13 connect to the main path 11 at two different points.
In reference to FIG. 6, each of the plurality of game space sequences 10 includes a first genre space 101, a second genre space 102, a third genre space 103, a fourth genre space 104, a fifth genre space 105, and a category space 106. The first genre space 101, the second genre space 102, the third genre space 103, the fourth genre space 104, the fifth genre space 105, and the category space 106 are consistently ordered for each of the plurality of game space sequences 10, wherein a repeating pattern of game spaces is produced along the main path 11, the first bypass route 12, and the second bypass route 13. In reference to FIG. 7, the plurality of trivia cards 5 includes a first set of genre cards 50, a second set of genre cards 51, a third set of genre cards 52, a fourth set of genre cards 53, a fifth set of genre cards 54, and a set of category cards 55, wherein each of the plurality of trivia cards 5 is associated with either the first genre space 101, the second genre space 102, the third genre space 103, the fourth genre space 104, the fifth genre space 105, or the category space 106 of each of the plurality of game space sequences 10.
The first set of genre cards 50 is associated with the first genre space 101 of each of the plurality of game space sequences 10. The second set of genre cards 51 is associated with the second genre space 102 of each of the plurality of game space sequences 10. The third set of genre cards 52 is associated with the third genre space 103 of each of the plurality of game space sequences 10. The fourth set of genre cards 53 is associated with the fourth genre space 104 of each of the plurality of game space sequences 10. The fifth set of genre cards 54 is associated with the fifth genre space 105 of each of the plurality of game space sequences 10. The set of category cards 55 is associated with the category space 106 of each of the plurality of game space sequences 10. The set of category cards 55 is further divided into sub-sets of cards, wherein each of the sub-sets of cards relates to a specific category, as depicted in FIG. 7. Additionally, the category space 106 of each of the plurality of game space sequences 10 corresponds to one of the sub-sets of cards.
When a player lands on either the first genre space 101, the second genre space 102, the third genre space 103, the fourth genre space 104, the fifth genre space 105, or the category space 106, a trivia card is drawn from the corresponding set of cards. Each of the plurality of trivia cards 5 has a trivia question that is related to the designated genre or category of the first set of genre cards 50, the second set of genre cards 51, the third set of genre cards 52, the fourth set of genre cards 53, the fifth set of genre cards 54, or the set of category cards 55. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the five genres are designated “Apollo City”, “Soundtrack City”, “Rhythm & Blues City”, “Hip-Hop City”, and “Motown City”, and there are four categories within the set of category cards 55 designated “Blue Eyed Soul”, “One Hit Wonders”, “Original Artist”, and “Duets”. The trivia question may be a true or false question, multiple choice question, fill in the blank question, or any other suitable type of question.
The first bypass access space 121 and the second bypass access space 131 may be integrated into the main path 11 between a pair of game space sequences or integrated into a single game space sequence. When a player lands on either the first bypass access space 121 or the second bypass access space 131, the player may choose to draw a trivia card from either the first set of genre cards 50, the second set of genre cards 51, the third set of genre cards 52, the fourth set of genre cards 53, the fifth set of genre cards 54, or the set of category cards 55. In other words, the player may choose the type of question that he or she would like to answer. If the question is answered correctly, then the player is allowed to proceed along the first bypass route 12 or the second bypass route 13.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the music trivia game board 1 further includes a first coded space 16 and a second coded space 17, as depicted in FIG. 8. The first coded space 16 is positioned adjacent to the first bypass access space 121, while the second coded space 17 is positioned adjacent to the second bypass access space 131. Preferably both the first coded space 16 and the second coded space 17 are quick response codes, however, it is possible for the first coded space 16 and the second coded space 17 to be any other scannable image, such as a bar code or encrypted picture. When a player lands on the first bypass access space 121 or the second bypass access space 131, then the player scans the first coded space 16 or the second coded space 17 respectively with an electronic device such as a smartphone, as depicted in FIG. 9. A trivia question is then retrieved from a website, or other software application, and displayed to the player on the electronic device. The player then answers the trivia question is an attempt to proceed along either the first bypass route 12 or the second bypass route 13.
Ideally game play lasts approximately one hour, however, the time may vary depending on the number of players and their knowledge of the music genres and categories. The following provides the method of game play for the music trivia board game, wherein a plurality of players is participating. In the preferred method of game play, the timer 2 regulates a thirty second time increment, however, the time increment may vary in other embodiments of the present invention. In reference to FIG. 11, to begin the game, each of the plurality of game pieces 4 is placed on the start space 111, wherein each of the plurality of players has a designated game piece 40. Each of the plurality of players rolls the die 3 in order to determine a starting player and an order of turns in which the plurality of players will continue game play. The player with the lowest rolled number is the starting player and goes first, while the player with the next lowest number goes second, and so on and so forth for the remaining players. Alternatively, game play may begin with the starting player and continue in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
In further reference to FIG. 11, the starting player rolls the die 3 to determine a number of spaces to move. The designated game piece 40 of the starting player is then moved the number of spaces on the music trivia board, as depicted in FIG. 8. More specifically, the designated game piece 40 of the starting player is moved about the main path 11 along the plurality of game space sequences 10. In reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 12, the starting player then draws a designated card 56 from the plurality of trivia cards 5 depending on the game space on which the designated game piece 40 of the starting player lands. For example, if the designated game piece 40 of the starting player lands on the first genre space 101 from one of the plurality of game space sequences 10, then the starting player draws the designated card 56 from the first set of genre cards 50.
Once the starting player has drawn the designated card 56, the starting player reads a music trivia question 57 written on the designated card 56, wherein the music trivia question 57 corresponds to the genre or category of the set of cards from which the designated card 56 was drawn. In reference to FIG. 11-12, the timer 2 is then initiated for the predetermined amount of time; the predetermined amount of time being thirty seconds in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The starting player then attempts to answer the music trivia question 57 within the predetermined amount of time. Once an answer to the music trivia question 57 has been provided by the starting player, the starting player flips the designated card 56 over to view the correct answer. The starting player then follows instructions written on the card depending on whether or not the music trivia question 57 was correctly answered. For example, if the music trivia question 57 was answered correctly, then the instructions may tell the starting player to move forward additional space; or if the music trivia question 57 is answered incorrectly, then the instructions may tell the starting player to move backwards.
Additionally, in reference to FIG. 15, if the music trivia question 57 is answered correctly, then the starting player may roll the die 3 again to determine a subsequent number of spaces to move. The designated game piece 40 of the starting player is then moved the subsequent number of spaces on the music trivia game board 1, wherein the process of drawing the designated card 56 from the plurality of trivia cards 5 according to the game space landed on, and answering the music trivia question 57 on the designated card 56 is repeated. A player has the opportunity to answer three music trivia question 57s correctly in a row, in a given turn before game play is progressed to the next player.
In reference to FIG. 11, once the turn for the starting player is over, the steps of rolling the die 3 to determine the number of spaces, moving the designated game piece 40 the number of spaces on the music trivia game board 1, initiating the timer 2, and answering the music trivia question 57 within the predetermined amount of time are repeated for the plurality of players. More specifically, the listed steps are rotationally repeated according to the order of turns determined at the beginning of the game. The steps are repeated until the designated game piece 40 of an arbitrary player from the plurality of players lands on the finish space 112, as depicted in FIG. 10.
In further reference to FIG. 11, the arbitrary player then draws a final card 58 from either the first set of genre cards 50, the second set of genre cards 51, the third set of genre cards 52, the fourth set of genre cards 53, the fifth set of genre cards 54, or the set of category cards 55, as depicted in FIG. 10. The arbitrary player then reads a final music trivia question 59 on the final card 58 and initiates the timer 2 for the predetermined amount of time. The arbitrary player then answers the final music question within the predetermined amount of time, and if the arbitrary correctly answers the final music trivia question 59, then the music trivia game is ended and the arbitrary player is deemed the winner. If the arbitrary player incorrectly answers the final music trivia question 59, then the designated game piece 40 of the arbitrary player is returned to the previous game space from which the designated game piece 40 of the arbitrary player was moved, and game play continues.
The movement of the plurality of game pieces 4 follows the main path 11 by default, however, each of the plurality of players may have the opportunity to switch to either the first bypass route 12 or the second bypass route 13 during game play. If the designated game piece 40 of a player lands on the first bypass access space 121 or the second bypass access space 131, then the player has the opportunity to switch to the first bypass route 12 or the second bypass route 13 respectively. In one embodiment of the present invention, the player draws a card from either the first set of genre cards 50, the second set of genre cards 51, the third set of genre cards 52, the fourth set of genre cards 53, the fifth set of genre cards 54, or the set of category cards 55 and answers the music trivia question 57 on the card. If the music trivia question 57 is answered correctly, then the player may move along the first bypass route 12 when on the first bypass access space 121 or the second bypass route 13 when on the second bypass access space 131.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the first coded space 16 is provided for the first bypass route 12. In reference to FIG. 13, if the designated game piece 40 of the player lands on the first bypass access space 121, then the player scans the first coded space 16 with an electronic device such as a smartphone. The electronic device then generates the music trivia question 57 by retrieving the music trivia question 57s from a website or other software application and displaying the music trivia question 57 to the player. The player then answers the music trivia question 57 within the predetermined amount of time, and if the player answers the music trivia question 57 correctly, then the player may move along the first bypass route 12.
Similarly, the second coded space 17 is provided for the second bypass route 13. In reference to FIG. 14, if the designated game piece 40 of the player lands on the second bypass access space 131, then the player scans the second coded space 17 with the electronic device. The electronic device then generates the music trivia question 57 by retrieving the music trivia question 57s from a website or other software application and displaying the music trivia question 57 to the player. The player then answers the music trivia question 57 within the predetermined amount of time, and if the player answers the music trivia question 57 correctly, then the player may move along the second bypass route 13.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A music trivia game board comprises:

a plurality of game space sequences;

a main path;

a first bypass route;

a second bypass route;

the first bypass route includes a first bypass access space and a terminal end;

the second bypass route includes a second bypass access space and a terminal end;

the first bypass access space and the terminal end of the first bypass route being positioned opposite each other along the first bypass route;

the second bypass access space and the terminal end of the second bypass route being positioned opposite each other along the second bypass route;

the first bypass access space and the second bypass access space being integrated into the main path;

the terminal end of the first bypass route and the terminal end of the second bypass route being adjacently connected to the main path; and

the plurality of game space sequences being positioned along the main path, the first bypass route, and the second bypass route.

2. The music trivia game board as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

each of the plurality of game space sequences includes a first genre space, a second genre space, a third genre space, a fourth genre space, a fifth genre space, and a category space.

3. The music trivia game board as claimed in claim 2 comprises:

the first genre space, the second genre space, the third genre space, the fourth genre space, the fifth genre space, and the category space being consistently ordered for each of the plurality of game space sequences.

4. The music trivia game board as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the first bypass route and the second bypass route converging into a joint bypass route.

5. The music trivia game board as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the main path includes a start space and a finish space; and

the start space and the finish space being positioned opposite each other along the main path.

6. The music trivia game board as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

a first coded space;

a second coded space;

the first coded space being positioned adjacent to the first bypass access space; and

the second coded space being positioned adjacent to the second bypass access space.

7. The music trivia game board as claimed in claim 6 comprises:

the first coded space being a quick response code; and

the second coded space being a quick response code.

8. A music trivia game comprises:

a timer;

a die;

a plurality of game pieces;

a plurality of trivia cards;

a music trivia game board including a plurality of game space sequences, a main path, a first bypass route, and a second bypass route;

the first bypass route includes a first bypass access space and a terminal end;

9. The music trivia game as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

each of the plurality of game space sequences includes a first genre space, a second genre space, a third genre space, a fourth genre space, a fifth genre space, and a category space;

the plurality of trivia cards includes a first set of genre cards, a second set of genre cards, a third set of genre cards, a fourth set of genre cards, a fifth set of genre cards, and a set of category cards;

the first set of genre cards being associated with the first genre space of each of the plurality of game space sequences;

the second set of genre cards being associated with the second genre space of each of the plurality of game space sequences;

the third set of genre cards being associated with the third genre space of each of the plurality of game space sequences;

the fourth set of genre cards being associated with the fourth genre space of each of the plurality of game space sequences;

the fifth set of genre cards being associated with the fifth genre space of each of the plurality of game space sequences; and

the set of category cards being associated with the category space of each of the plurality of game space sequences.

10. The music trivia game as claimed in claim 9 comprises:

11. The music trivia game as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

12. The music trivia game as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the main path includes a start space and a finish space; and

13. The music trivia game as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

a first coded space;

a second coded space;

14. The music trivia game as claimed in claim 13 comprises:

the first coded space being a quick response code; and

the second coded space being a quick response code.

15. The music trivia game as claimed in claim 8, wherein the timer regulates a thirty second time increment.

16. A method for playing a music trivia game comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of players, a music trivia game board, a timer, a die, and a plurality of game pieces, wherein the music trivia game board includes a start space and a finish space;

(b) placing the plurality of game pieces on the start space;

(c) rolling the die to determine a number of spaces to move;

(d) moving a designated game piece from the game pieces the number of spaces on the music trivia game board;

(e) initiating the timer for a predetermined amount of time;

(f) answering a music trivia question within the predetermined amount of time;

(g) rotationally repeating steps (c), (d), (e), and (f) for each of the plurality of players until the designated game piece of an arbitrary player from the plurality of players lands on the finish space;

(h) initiating the timer for the predetermined amount of time;

(i) answering, by the arbitrary player, a final music trivia question within the predetermined amount of time; and

(j) ending the music trivia game, if the arbitrary player correctly answers the final music trivia question.

17. The method for playing a music trivia game as claimed in claim 16 further comprises the steps of:

rolling the die to determine a subsequent number of spaces to move,

if the music trivia question is answered correctly within the predetermined amount of time; and

moving the designated game piece the subsequent number of spaces on the music trivia game board.

18. The method for playing a music trivia game as claimed in claim 16 further comprises the steps of:

providing a first bypass access space and a first coded space for the music trivia game board;

scanning the first coded space with an electronic device,

if the designated game piece lands on the first bypass access space; and

answering the music trivia question generated on the electronic device within the predetermined amount of time.

19. The method for playing a music trivia game as claimed in claim 16 further comprises the steps of:

providing a second bypass access space and a second coded space for the music trivia game board;

scanning the second coded space with an electronic device,

if the designated game piece lands on the second bypass access space; and

20. The method for playing a music trivia game as claimed in claim 16 further comprises the steps of:

providing a plurality of trivia cards;

drawing a designated card from the plurality of trivia cards; and

answering the music trivia question on the designated card within the predetermined amount of time.