US20150360120A1

US20150360120A1 - Board game

Info

Publication number: US20150360120A1
Application number: US14/304,141
Authority: US
Inventors: Emily Taylor Allen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-06-13
Filing date: 2014-06-13
Publication date: 2015-12-17

Abstract

A board game as well as a method of playing a board game by multiple players comprises providing a game card deck containing individual game cards, each including a question to be answered by a player and the answer to the question. One or more dice along with a game playing element for each of the players are provided. A game card/board includes a plurality of separate game playing element receiver regions, each game playing element receiver region consists of one of a blank indication and a player instruction. The game is played by one player drawing a card from the deck; passing the card to another player who reads the question to the player. If the player correctly answers the question, the player rolls the dice and moves a game piece a number of spaces on the game board corresponding to the numeric total indicated on the dice.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to board games and more particularly, relates to an educational multi-player board and dice game played with standard dice and a game board utilizing a learning and/or game or trivia inspired and focused card deck with questions that must be answered correctly before a player can roll the dice and advance around the game board.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Dice games for multiple players have been in existence for many years and are well known and much enjoyed by many individuals. Although there are many games that are played with dice and game boards or game cards, a need exists for a new board and dice game that is easy to play for almost all age levels from youngsters to senior citizens and which is enjoyable, stimulating and simultaneously provides an educational experience for the user and requires successful answers to a card deck question in order to advance on the game board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features a board game as well as a method of playing a board game by multiple players. The method comprises the acts of providing a game card deck containing a plurality of individual game cards, each of the plurality of individual game cards including a question to be answered by a player, and the answer to the question. Also provided is one or more dice, wherein each dice includes numerical indicia on each of its sides, along with providing a game playing element for each of the multiple players. Also provided is a game card/board including a plurality of separate game playing element receiver regions disposed along a prearranged game path, each game playing element receiver region consisting of one of a blank indication and a player instruction.
The method of playing the game according to the present invention begins by having the players determine in what order the players will proceed. Next, the first player selected to proceed selects one game card from the game card deck. The first player passes the selected game card to another player without reading the question and answer included on the selected game card following which the other player reads the question from the game card selected by the first player out loud to the first player.
The method continues by receiving an answer from the first player to the question from the selected game card following which the another player determines whether the first player has correctly answered the question. If the another player determines that the first player has incorrectly answered the question, the another player informs the first player that the question has been incorrectly answered and wherein play advances to a second player, following which the acts of selecting one game card, passing the selected game card to another player and reading and answering the question by the second player continues as outlined above.
In response to the act of determining that the first player correctly answered the question, rolling the one or more dice by the first player and determining the numeric total of the one or more rolled dice. The first player then moves the first player game playing element a number of game playing element receiver regions (positions) corresponding to the numeric total on the dice, wherein the game playing element comes to rest on a particular game playing element receiver region.
Next, play continues by determining whether the particular game playing element receiver region includes a blank indication or a player instruction, and if the game playing element receiver region includes a blank indication, the play of the first players ends and play continues to a second and subsequent player, and if the game playing element receiver region includes a player instruction, the first player follows the instruction (once), following which play continues to a second and subsequent player.
In one embodiment, the player instruction printed on one or more of the plurality game playing element receiver regions disposed along the prearranged game path is selected from the group of player instructions consisting of lose a turn; take another turn; go back to start; advance a predetermined number of spaces; and go back a predetermined number of spaces. In one embodiment, the game board includes a theme having one or more visual or verbal elements related to the theme. In this embodiment, at least one of the plurality of game playing element receiver regions includes the one or more visual or verbal elements related to the theme while the player instruction printed on one or more of the plurality of game playing element receiver regions includes a player instruction related to the theme. A player landing on one of the plurality of game playing element receiver regions disposed along the prearranged game path having a player instruction follows the instruction found on only the first game playing element receiver region. That is, if the first game playing element receiver region includes an instruction to move three spaces forward, the player does that but if the next game playing element receiver region the player lands on also has an instruction (a second instruction), the second instruction is not followed and play for that player ends.
The invention is not intended to be limited to a device or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated or implied objects or features of the invention and should not be limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a game board, representative game card set and dice utilized with the board and dice game of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a representation of a game board according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention features an educational board and dice game 10 that is played with a game board 12, FIG. 1; one or more standard die 14; one game board moving element or player piece 17 for each player; and a deck of game cards 16 each including one or more questions and answers 18. The game may be played by 2 or more players, with 4 to 6 players being a reasonable maximum number of players although this number of players is not a limitation of the invention.
The game board 12 may include a visual “theme” depending on the desires of the user or manufacturer. For example, in one embodiment, the game board 12 a, FIG. 2 features a vampire theme although other themes such as a holiday theme, a sport theme, movie theme, or any other “theme” then popular or desired may be provided without departing from the present invention.
Common to each and every game board 12 will be a game “path” 20 comprised of sequential individual “locations” 22 on the game board 12 that the user traverses based in part on the roll of the one or more dice 14 as explained below and based also in part on actions/directives 24 printed on one or more various locations 22 along the game path 20. A myriad of “actions/directives” 24 are contemplated and may be included in the game path including, but not limited to, such known game board actions/directives such as “skip a turn”; “go back X locations”; “go ahead X locations”; “go back to start”; “take another turn”; and the like, for example.
The number of dice 14 may be selected based upon the number of locations 22 on the game board 12. For a smaller game board, one dice containing numerals 1 through 6 may be sufficient whereas for a larger game board containing a larger number of locations 22, it may be desirable to use 2 dice wherein possible numeric total combinations from 1 through 12 are possible.
The game card deck 16 includes a number of individual cards, which may include a set of educational cards related to one topic such as, for example only; multiplication, addition, subtraction, addition, a mixture of math concepts, history, geography or any other educational or quizable “topic” or “topics” desired including “trivia” questions of a specific, mixed or general nature. A player must correctly answer the question posed on the card before he or she is able to roll the dice and advance along the game path 20.
The game is played as follows: the game board 12 is set up; one player piece 17 for each player is provided; along with a deck of question cards 16 and one or more dice 14. The deck of cards 16 and dice 14 are placed next to the board 12. Next, the order in which the players will take their turn must be decided. Play may proceed beginning with one player and going clockwise; counterclockwise; in the order of oldest player to youngest or vice versa; or any other order desired and agreed upon.
Upon each respective players turn, each player will pick a card from the deck 16 without looking at the card. The player will hand the card to the person to their right (or left) who will read the card question out loud but will not disclose the answer printed on the card. If the player gets the answer right, they are then allowed to roll the dice to determine how many spaces or locations 22 on the game board 12 to move.
If a player lands on a first location 22 with some printed indicia twenty-four, he or she must follow the directions listed on the indicia 24.
For example, some of the indicia or instructions printed on a first ending location 22 on the game board 12 may include go back to start; loose a turn; advance X spaces; take another turn; go back X spaces; and the like for example. Any instruction(s) printed on a second ending location 22 arrived at after the player follows the instructions printed on the first ending location 22 are ignored. It is then the next player's turn. If a player answers the question incorrectly, they do not move or get to roll the die and play advances to the next player. The first player to reach the end location 22 f wins.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an educational game that utilizes the questions 18 printed on the game cards 16 to teach and/or reinforce one or more educational concepts on the players involved while at the same time providing recreation and enjoyment to the players.
As stated above, the present invention is not intended to be limited to a device or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated or implied objects or features of the invention and should not be limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of playing a board game by multiple players, said method comprising the acts of:

providing a game card deck containing a plurality of individual game cards, each of said plurality of individual game cards including a question to be answered by a player, and the answer to said question;

providing one or more dice, wherein each die includes numerical indicia on each of its sides;

providing a game playing element for each of said multiple players;

providing a game card/board including a plurality of separate game playing element receiver regions disposed along a prearranged game path, each game playing element receiver region consisting of one of a blank indication and a player instruction;

determining, by said plurality of players, an order the players will proceed in to play the board game;

selecting, by a first player to proceed, one game card from said game card deck by a first player;

said first player passing said selected game card to another player without reading said question and answer to said question included on said selected game card;

said another player reading said question from said selected game card out loud to said first player;

receiving an answer by said another player to said question on said selected game card from said first player;

determining, by said another player, whether said first player has correctly answered said question;

if said another player determines that said first player has incorrectly answered said question, informing said first player that the question has been incorrectly answered and wherein play advances to a second player, following which the acts of selecting one game card, passing said selected game card to another player and reading and answering the question by the second player continues;

responsive to said act of determining that said first player correctly answer said question, rolling the one or more dice by said first player;

determining the numeric total of said one or more rolled dice;

responsive to said determined numeric total, said first player moving the first player game playing element a number of game playing element receiver regions corresponding to said numeric total of said one or more rolled dice, wherein said game playing element comes to rest on a particular game playing element receiver region;

determining whether said particular game playing element receiver region includes a blank indication or a player instruction, and if said game playing element receiver region includes a blank indication, play resuming to a second and subsequent player, and if said game playing element receiver region includes a player instruction, said first player following said instruction, following which play resumes to a second and subsequent player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said player instruction printed on said plurality game playing element receiver regions disposed along said prearranged game path are selected from the group of player instructions consisting of lose a turn; take another turn; go back to start; advance a predetermined number of spaces; and go back a predetermined number of spaces.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said game board includes a theme having one or more visual or verbal elements related to said theme.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of said plurality of game playing element receiver regions includes said one or more visual or verbal elements related to said theme.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said player instruction printed on one or more of said plurality of game playing element receiver regions includes a player instruction related to said theme.