The present invention generally relates to board games, and more particularly relates to board games with electronics, and even more particularly relates to board games with variable electronic game pieces.
In the past, board games have largely utilized static physical game pieces. For example, the classic board game Monopoly has utilized small cast metal pieces such as a dog, thimble, top hat, etc. Many role playing games also utilize static character-like game pieces.
While these static and cast metal game pieces may have many advantages in particular uses, they also have created challenges. One common challenge created by these designs is that they require the purchase of new game pieces if it is desired to expand the choices available. Increasing the number of static game pieces can be expensive, and then require increased storage space and a concomitant increase in the amount of time needed to dig through the various game pieces.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,967 is for a board game having dynamic game pieces. Described therein is a central game piece with the ability to physically attach additional parts to the central game piece to change its appearance. The changes in appearances are limited to a finite set of variable combinations and ordering of additional parts. The system does not permit a visual change in a character, e.g. a change from the dog to the hat in the Monopoly game.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and apparatuses for playing board games with a large variety of visual distinct game pieces.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a board game with an electronically variable game piece.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a compact variable game piece with an electronic counter capability.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an ability to personalize game pieces for board games.
It is a feature of the present invention to utilize an electronic game piece with a variable electronic display device thereon.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide for the ability to widely vary an appearance of a game piece for a board game.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for varying an appearance of a game piece, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a manner that the amount of physical storage space needed and total number of game pieces owned can be reduced, while providing for increased ability for using visually distinct game pieces.
Accordingly, the present invention is a system for and method for playing a board game with electronic visually variable game pieces.
The invention may be more fully understood by reading the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawing wherein:
Now referring to the drawings, where like numerals refer to like matter throughout, the present invention relates to a novel variable game piece of the present invention. More specifically, now referring to
Variable game piece 100 is shown with a housing 1 and a game piece optional detachable customization piece 50. Housing 1 includes game piece board game mating side 30, which would typically sit on the game board 400 (
Now referring to
Processor 310 is coupled to memory 370, which could store various items, such as images to be displayed on variable game piece first side LCD 10 and variable game piece second side LCD 20, as well as storage of instructions, battle videos and other data used in the operation of the variable game piece 100. A computer data port 330, which could be the variable game piece computer interface port 60 of
The variable game piece 100 could function as follows:
The game piece device controls 42 are used to control the operation of the variable game piece 100 by selecting what and how the images to be displayed on variable game piece first side LCD 10 and variable game piece second side LCD 20 are displayed. For example, both displays 10 and 20 could show the same image or different images. The displays 10 and 20 could be configured with the game piece device controls 42, or a remote pc via variable game piece computer interface port 60 to display a numeral which is representative of a counter. For example, it could display a number corresponding to the turn of the turn taken, the player number of the player, or the time taken by the player to take an action, the collective time taken by a player during the game. Still other information could be displayed such as, but not limited to, points earned by a player, amount of life left in a player. There may be multiple numbers displayed for each character, such as points earned and life remaining. These may be organized into a main number and a sub number. Descriptive text may be included along with the numbers and the images.
Where the variable game piece 100 includes both NFC and inertial sensors, two pieces may communicate with each other when brought into close proximity, or if they are tipped individually or at the same time. In some games, the pieces may “battle” each other and display a computer simulated video representative of a battle and may make battle sounds, enhancing the game experience for the players.
The variable game piece 100 is sized and configured to be use on board games such as Monopoly, Life, Dungeons and Dragons and Pathfinder as well as similar board games. The size of the variable game piece 100 is small and can be easily used as a replacement piece for the original game pieces that are sold with such games.
The small sized variable game piece 100 may often be used with a folding game board 400, as shown in
It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
6182967 | Green | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6476378 | Nougaret et al. | Nov 2002 | B2 |
6835131 | White et al. | Dec 2004 | B1 |
7267342 | Myrfors et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
20050017450 | Weisman et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20050248091 | Neervoort et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
20050258598 | Myrfors et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
20070117602 | Madigou et al. | May 2007 | A1 |
20080004110 | Cortenraad et al. | Jan 2008 | A1 |
20080122175 | Deng | May 2008 | A1 |
20080211183 | Cortenraad et al. | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20090104988 | Enge et al. | Apr 2009 | A1 |
20130217496 | Olkin et al. | Aug 2013 | A1 |