Patent Application
20050040598
Action figure games typically require game boards for play. This can make the portability of the game more difficult.
The present invention is provided to solve this and other problems.
It is an object of the invention to provide an action figure game piece.
In accordance with the invention, the game piece comprises a game figure character adapted for movement a distance over a surface and means for indicating the distance of movement over the surface.
It is contemplated that the distance indicating means provides an audible and/or visual indication of the distance. In particular, the distance indicating means may comprise an axle, a wheel fixedly secured to the axle and adapted for rotary engagement with the surface, to rotate the axle upon movement of the game piece over the surface, and means for indicating progressive rotation of the axle.
It is further contemplated that the game piece includes means for attacking another game piece. The attacking means may comprise a means for launching a projectile. Alternatively, the attacking means may comprise a spring, a striking portion, and means for permitting rotation of the striking portion of the game piece in a first direction relative to the spring to bias the striking portion, such that the striking portion will rotate in a second, opposite direction upon release.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of playing an action figure game on a surface.
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the method comprises providing for each player a plurality of game pieces, each game piece having an indicium indicating a point value, a means for indicating a distance the game piece has moved over the surface, and a means for attacking an opponent player's game pieces. The method further comprises selecting for each player a group of the game pieces having point values summing to a predetermined value, and selecting a number of actions each player can take per player's turn. An action comprises either a move, comprising moving a game piece a distance up to the particular game piece's point value, or an attack, comprising actuation of the particular game piece's attacking means. The players alternate taking turns, selectively making a move or an attack, until the game is determined to have ended.
It is contemplated that a game piece is removed from the game if the game piece is determined to have been killed by an attack.
It is further contemplated that at least one of each game piece in each of the plurality of game pieces includes means for randomly providing the player with a reward if that particular game piece is killed.
It is still further contemplated that the plurality of game pieces includes at least one game piece having a close-acting attacking means and at least one game piece having a distance-acting attacking means.
Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
A first embodiment of an action figure game piece 10 is illustrated in
As shown in
The mechanism for visually indicating the distance of movement comprises a circular rack 30 engaging the pinion gear 24. The circular rack 30 includes an upper surface 30a and a lower surface 30b. The upper surface 30a has circumferentially spaced first red marks 34. An upper, black faceplate 36 is disposed on the base portion 14 adjacent the rack surface 30a. The upper faceplate 36 has a first visual aperture 38 radially aligned with the first red marks 34 to sequentially display movement of the first red marks as the rack 30 rotates. The number of first red marks passing by the aperture 38 indicates the distance traveled.
The game piece 10 has a mechanism for attacking another game piece. This attack mechanism is a distance-acting attack mechanism, as illustrated in
A second embodiment of a game piece 10′ is illustrated in
The game piece 10 also includes a mechanism for alternatively displaying and shielding a series of second red marks 52 (in phantom), indicative of the presence or absence of a special characteristic of the game piece. The series of second red marks 52 are circumferentially spaced on the lower surface 30b. A second faceplate 56 is disposed on the base portion 14 adjacent the lower surface 30b. The second faceplate 56 has a visual aperture 58 radially aligned with the series of second red marks to alternatively display the presence or absence of the second series of red marks 52.
The method of playing an action figure game on the surface is as follows. Each player is initially provided with a plurality of the game pieces 10, 10′ forming a pool of the game pieces 10, 10′. Each of the game pieces 10, 10′ has a number indicating a particular point value. Different ones of the game pieces 10, 10′ have different point values. Each of the game pieces 10, 10′ has the distance indicating mechanism, and one of the attack mechanisms, described above. Each player initially selects a group of the game pieces 10, 10′ from the player's respective pool, having point values summing to a predetermined value. This group will be the player's team. Any number of players may play.
During play, each player sequentially takes a turn. For each turn, each player can take a predetermined number of actions, for example, three. An action is either: (1) a move, comprising moving one of the player's game pieces 10, 10′ a distance up to the particular game piece's point value; or (2) an attack, comprising actuation of the particular game piece's attack mechanism against one of an opponent's game pieces 10, 10′. During a turn, there may be limitations of how many total moves or attacks can be taken. For example if three actions are permitted, players may be limited to no more than two moves (and one attack) or two attacks (and one move) per turn.
A game piece 10, 10′ is removed from the game if the game piece 10, 10′ is determined to have been killed by an attack, such as being knocked over in response to an opponent's attack. The players sequentially take turns, selectively making a move or an attack, until the game is determined to have ended, such as when all of a player's game figures have been killed, or upon completion of a particular time period. The winner is determined by summing the point values of each players remaining game pieces.
According to the method, if a player's game piece 10, 10′ is killed when one of its second red marks is present, the player is awarded in accordance with a message on the underside of the base portion 14. For example, the game piece 10, 10′ may be permitted to re-enter the game. Or the player may add a different game piece 1-, 10′ to the game.
Modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. This description is to be construed as illustrative only, and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of the structure and method may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.
