Patent Application
20180071614
There are a number of games that incorporate playing apparatus which can be employed by players in a contest to win a game. One type of game employs a plurality of game pieces that can be moved in restricted directions according to a roll of dice in order to capture opposing game pieces according to strengths assigned to the game pieces. For example, the strength of a first game piece may be stronger than the strength of a second game piece resulting in the capture of the second game piece. Players may in turn attempt to capture an opponent's game pieces and the player that is able to capture a specified portion of an opponent's game pieces may win the game.
A game is described, and more particularly to a game in which a game board, one or more dice, and a plurality of game pieces are utilized by each side, such that rolling the dice, in turn, indicates a hierarchical symbol that determines game play. In one example, the game can include: a game board, game pieces, and one or more indicator cubes (dice). The game board may comprise a plurality of hexagonally shaped spaces arranged in rows and columns on a surface of the game board indicating a first side and an opposing side. The game pieces may be configured for placement on the hexagonally shaped spaces of the game board. The game pieces can comprise two groups of game pieces that are distinguishably different from one another. The two groups of game pieces may contain the same number of game pieces. The dice may include one of three hierarchical symbols on each face of a die, where the hierarchical symbol on a face of the dice corresponds to the hierarchical symbol on an opposing face of the dice.
In one example, the game may be played by arranging the game pieces on the game board so that a first group of game pieces is placed on a first side of the game board and a second group of game pieces is placed on an opposing side of the game board. A first player (a defender) rolls in turn a die to determine a hierarchical strength of the defender game pieces. A second player (an attacker) rolls in turn both dice. The attacker may decide which of the two dice will be used to determine a direction of movement of an attacker game piece (e.g., forward right, forward straight, or forward left) and a hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece. When the attacker game piece is within a specified proximity of the defender game piece, a defender game piece can be captured when a hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece is stronger than the hierarchical strength of the defender game piece.
Players may switch roles (i.e., attacker and defender) when the attacker fails to capture one of the defender's game pieces. The game ends when a specified number of hexagonally shaped spaces of a base row of the opposing side are occupied by opposing game pieces, or a specified number of game pieces have been captured by the opposing game pieces.
To more clearly describe the game, examples are now provided with reference to the figures. Accordingly,
The game may include a number of game pieces 130 configured for placement on the hexagonally shaped spaces 110 of the game board 100. In one example configuration, the game pieces 130 may include two groups of game pieces that are distinguishably different from one another. For example, the two groups of game pieces may be of different colors or shapes, or the game pieces 130 in each group may have markings that distinguish the two groups of game pieces. As one example, the game pieces 130 may be disk shaped and may be evenly divided into two groups where the first group is a first color and the second group is a second color.
The two groups of game pieces may contain a same number of game pieces 130. In the example illustrated, each of the group of game pieces includes eighteen game pieces 130 (thirty-six game pieces 130 total), although, as will be appreciated, the groups of game pieces may contain more or less game pieces 130. In the example that the game board 100 is configured to accommodate more than two players, additional groups of distinguishable game pieces may be provided.
In one example, the game pieces 130 may be arranged in starting positions on the first side 115 and the second side 120 of the game board 100, such that one of the two groups of game pieces may be assigned to the first side 115 of the game board 100, and a second of the two groups of game pieces may be assigned to the second side 120 of the game board 100. Each game piece 130 may occupy a hexagonally shaped space 110 on the game board 100.
In one example, the starting position for the game pieces 130 at the commencement of the game may include one or more rows located on the first side 115 and one or more rows located on the second side 120. Namely, the first group of game pieces may be placed on one or more rows on the first side 115 of the game board 100 and the second group of game pieces may be placed on the second side 120 of the game board 100. In the example illustrated in
Player points can be accumulated during the course of game play by adding the numerical value assigned to a hexagonally shaped space to a players point total. For example, in placing a player's game piece on a hexagonally shaped space, a numerical value assigned to the hexagonally shaped space can be added to the player's point total. For example, a player may begin a game with zero points and for each move that places the player's game piece on a hexagonally shaped space having a numerical value, the numerical value can be added to the player's point total.
In one example, a numerical value assigned to a hexagonally shaped space can be increased (e.g., doubled, tripled, etc.) based on a type of move made by a player. For example, a numerical value of a hexagonally shaped space can be doubled when a move results in capturing a defender's game piece, and the numerical value of the hexagonally shaped space can be tripled when an attacker captures a defender's game piece from one of the hexagonally shaped spaces in the defender's base row (as illustrated in
The die 200 may have one of three hierarchical symbols 204a-c on each face 202 of the die 200, where the hierarchical symbol 204a-c on a face 202 of the die 200 corresponds to a hierarchical symbol 204a-c on an opposing face of the die 200. For example, a hierarchical symbol “rock” on a first face may correspond to the same hierarchical symbol “rock” on an opposing face.
Each hierarchical symbol 204a-c may be assigned a hierarchical strength that is stronger or weaker as compared to a hierarchical strength of another hierarchical symbol 204a-c. For example, as illustrated, hierarchical symbols 204a-c on the faces 202 of the die 200 may include “rock”, “paper”, and “scissor” symbols where “rock” may have a hierarchical strength that is greater than “scissors”, “paper” may have a hierarchical strength that is greater than “rock”, and “scissors” may have a hierarchical strength that is greater than “paper”. As will be appreciated, the die 200 may include hierarchical symbols other than those shown in
In a three player version example, a first player may challenge a second player to the first player's right, each rolling one die with the player losing the roll being eliminated and the winning player challenging a third player. That is, the winning player and the third player each roll one die, with the player losing the roll being eliminated. The winning player may start the game as the attacker.
As in block 304, the player designated as the attacker may roll the die to determine a direction of movement of an attacker game piece. More specifically, the hierarchical symbol indicated by the die may determine the direction of a game piece selected by the attacker. For example, a first hierarchical symbol may indicate that a game piece may be moved right, a second hierarchical symbol may indicate that the game piece may be moved straight, and a third hierarchical symbol may indicate that the game piece may be moved left. As one example, the hierarchical symbols: “rock” may indicate right; “paper” may indicate left; and “scissors” may indicate straight. In any case, the game piece may be moved one or two unoccupied adjacent spaces forward according to the direction indicated by the hierarchical symbol on the die.
The player designated as the attacker may select one of the player's game pieces and move the game piece to an unoccupied adjacent space according to the direction indicated by the hierarchical symbol on the die. As in block 306, if an attacker game piece is within two adjacent spaces of a defender game piece, then as in block 308, the player designated as the defender may roll the die to determine a hierarchical strength of the defender game piece, otherwise as in block 314 the players switch attacker/defender roles and the game continues.
In one example, an attacker may roll two dice, one die to determine a direction of movement of an attacker game piece, and a second die to determine a hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece. The attacker may select which die is used to determine the direction of movement of the attacker game piece and which die is used to determine the hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece. In the case that none of the attacker game pieces are within two spaces of a defender game piece, the attacker may select the hierarchical symbol of either die to determine the direction of movement of an attacker game piece.
After the defender game piece that is within two spaces of the attacker game piece has been assigned a hierarchical strength via the defender rolling the die to determine the hierarchical strength, then as in block 310, the attacker may roll the die to determine the hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece (if not already determined by the attacker using two dice as explained above). In the example where two dice are used by the attacker, the attacker may select the hierarchical symbol of either die to determine the hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece when the attacker game piece is in a space directly adjacent to the defender game piece and therefore cannot be moved forward.
As in block 312, if the hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece is greater than that of the hierarchical strength of the defender game piece, then as in block 316, the attacker captures the defender game piece. As an example, an attacker game piece assigned “rock” may have a greater hierarchical strength than that of a defender game piece assigned “scissors” and may therefore capture the defender game piece. In capturing a defender game piece, the defender game piece may be removed from the game board and the attacker game piece may be moved to the space formally occupied by the defender game piece. After capturing a defender game piece, the attacker may continue to take turns until the attacker fails to capture a defender game piece, or as in block 318, the game objective has been obtained.
As in block 312, if the defender game piece has a hierarchical strength that is greater than that of the hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece, then as in block 314, the players switch attacker/defender roles and the game continues until the game objective is obtained by one of the players. As an example, a defender game piece assigned “scissors” may have a greater hierarchical strength than that of an attacker game piece assigned “paper” and may therefore survive the attack of the attacker game piece and the players may switch roles. In one example, in the case that the attacker game piece is adjacent to a defender game piece and the defender game piece has hierarchical strength that is greater than that of the hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece, the defender game piece may capture the attacker game piece, which is then removed from the game board and the defender game piece may be moved to the space occupied by the captured attacker game piece.
In a three player version example, if an attacker is unable to attack an opposing player's game piece or chooses to move without attacking, the move rules described above may be used, where a player to the right of the attacker may assume the attacker role after the move. If the attacker is able to attack an opposing player's game piece and chooses to attack, the attacker will announce their intention to the player they are attacking. At this point the rules described above may be used. If the attacker fails to capture a game piece during an attack, the player to the right of the attacker assumes the attacker role.
In one example, the game may end when a specified number of hexagonally shaped spaces of a player's base row are occupied by opposing game pieces, or a specified number of game pieces have been captured by one of the players. In one example where the game board illustrated in
As in block 404, game pieces configured for placement on the hexagonally shaped spaces of the game board may be provided, where the game pieces may comprise two groups of game pieces that are distinguishably different from one another, and the two groups of game pieces may contain a same number of game pieces. In one example, the game pieces may comprise thirty-six disk shaped game pieces that are evenly divided into the two groups of game pieces, wherein one of the two groups of game pieces may be a first color and a second of the two groups of game pieces may be a second color.
As in block 406, at least one indicator cube may be provided that has one of three hierarchical symbols on each face of the at least one indicator cube, where the hierarchical symbol on a face of the at least one indicator cube corresponds to the hierarchical symbol on an opposing face of the at least one indicator cube. In one example, two indicator cubes may be assigned to each player, where each indicator cube has a rock symbol, a paper symbol, and a scissors symbol on one of three faces that correspond to a matching rock symbol, paper symbol, and scissors symbol on one of three opposing faces.
As in block 408, the game pieces may be arranged on the first side and the opposing side of the game board, wherein one of the two groups of game pieces may be assigned to the first side of the game board and a second of the two groups of game pieces may be assigned to the opposing side of the game board, such that the game pieces occupy a hexagonally shaped space on the game board. In one example, the game may be started by rolling the at least one indicator cube by each player to determine a player to start the game. For example, the player that rolls a hierarchical symbol having the strongest hierarchical strength may choose to be the attacker or the defender. The player designated the attacker may start the game.
As in block 410, the at least one indicator cube may be rolled, in turn, to indicate a hierarchical symbol that determines a direction of movement of an attacker game piece. In one example, the direction of movement of an attacker game piece may be right, left, or forward as determined by one of the three hierarchical symbols indicated by the roll of the at least one indicator cube.
As in block 412, the at least one indicator cube may be rolled, in turn, to indicate a hierarchical symbol that determines a hierarchical strength of a defender game piece when the attacker game piece is within a specified proximity of the defender game piece. In one example, the specified proximity of the attacker game piece to the defender game piece may be within two of the hexagonally shaped spaces.
As in block 414, the at least one indicator cube may be rolled, in turn, to indicate a hierarchical symbol that determines a hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece. A defender game piece may be captured when the hierarchical strength of the attacker game piece is stronger than the hierarchical strength of the defender game piece. In capturing a defender game piece, the defender game piece may be removed from the game board and the attacker game piece may be placed in the hexagonally shaped space previously occupied by the defender game piece.
In one example, the game may end when a specified number of hexagonally shaped spaces of a base row of the first side or the opposing side are occupied by opposing game pieces, or a specified number of game pieces have been captured by the opposing game pieces. In another example, the game may end when all opposing game pieces have been captured, or when a stalemate occurs.
In one example, players can start a game by selecting a game board pattern to construct using their game pieces on the hexagonally shaped spaces of the game board, as in block 502. In another example, a game board pattern may be predetermined. After selecting the game board pattern, the players roll a die to determine who will start the game. That is, the roll determines which player will place the first game piece on a hexagonally shaped space, starting the game board pattern.
The players may use a die having hierarchal symbols on the faces of the die. For example, one or more die similar to that shown in
Thereafter, as in block 504, the players roll (in turn) a die to determine which player will place a game piece on the game board. The player that won the roll, as in block 506, selects a hexagonally shaped space included in the game board pattern to place a game piece that has a hierarchical symbol that corresponds to the hierarchical symbol rolled by the player. As in block 508, in the case that the hexagonally shaped space selected by the player is occupied by an opponent's game piece, a determination is made whether the opponent's game piece is stronger than the player's game piece, as in block 510. That is, a determination is made whether the hierarchical symbol on the player's game piece is stronger than the hierarchical symbol of the opponent's game piece. In the case that the player's game piece is stronger than the opponent's game piece, then as in block 512, the opponent's game piece is replaced with the player's game piece. However, in the case that the hierarchical symbol on the opponent's game piece is weaker than the hierarchical symbol on the player's game piece, the player selects a different hexagonally shaped space.
As in block 514, in the case that the player selects a hexagonally shaped space that is adjacent to a hexagonally shaped space occupied by a opponent's game piece, a determination whether the player's game piece is stronger than the opponent's game piece is made, as in block 510, whereupon the player's game piece can replace the opponent's game piece if the player's game piece is stronger than the opponent's game piece.
After completing a turn, as in block 516, a determination whether a game objective has been obtained is made. In one example, the game objective comprises placing a number of the player's game pieces adjacent to one another in hexagonally shaped spaces that form the game board pattern. For example, after a player has three adjacent game pieces in a row within hexagonally shaped spaces that form the game board pattern, the player has won the game. As an option, the winning player can add up the value of numbered spaces (as shown in
As in block 708, each player rolls the at least one indicator cube to determine a winning player who rolls the at least one indicator cube to indicate the hierarchical symbol having the strongest hierarchical strength.
As in block 710, the winning player selects a hexagonally shaped space included in a plurality of hexagonally shaped spaces that together form a predetermined pattern on the game board for a game piece to occupy, wherein the game piece has the hierarchical symbol having the strongest hierarchical strength on the game piece face. In selecting the hexagonally shaped space, the winning player can select an empty hexagonally shaped space, replace an opponent game piece occupying the hexagonally shaped space on the game board with the game piece, or replace an opponent game piece occupying an adjacent hexagonally shaped space on the game board with the game piece; wherein the game piece has a hierarchical symbol having a stronger hierarchical strength than the hierarchical symbol of the opponent game piece.
After the winning player selects a hexagonally shaped space, as in block 712, a determination whether a specified number of the plurality of hexagonally shaped spaces that together form the predetermined pattern are occupied by the winning player is made. In the case that the specified number of hexagonally shaped spaces are occupied by the winning player, the game is won, thereby ending the game. In the case that the game is not won, the players again roll the at least one indicator cube as in block 708.
As will be appreciated, the board game can be implemented on a computing device having at least one processor and memory device, such that the memory device may be configured with instructions that execute the game and cause game components to be displayed to a display or screen.
The memory device 820 may contain modules 824 that are executable by the processor(s) 812 and data for the modules 824. For example, the memory device 820 may include a game module, and other modules. The modules 824 may execute the game described earlier. A data store 822 may also be located in the memory device 820 for storing data related to the modules 824 and other applications along with an operating system that is executable by the processor(s) 812. Components or modules discussed in this description that may be implemented in the form of software using high programming level languages that are compiled, interpreted or executed using a hybrid of the methods.
The computing device may also have access to I/O (input/output) devices 814 that are usable by the computing devices. One example of an I/O device is a display 830 configured to display game output. Networking devices 816 and similar communication devices may be included in the computing device. The networking devices 816 may be wired or wireless networking devices that connect to the internet, a LAN, WAN, or other computing network.
The components or modules that are shown as being stored in the memory device 820 may be executed by the processor(s) 812. The term “executable” may mean a program file that is in a form that may be executed by a processor 812. For example, a program in a higher-level language may be compiled into machine code in a format that may be loaded into a random access portion of the memory device 820 and executed by the processor 812, or source code may be loaded by another executable program and interpreted to generate instructions in a random access portion of the memory to be executed by a processor. The executable program may be stored in any portion or component of the memory device 820. For example, the memory device 820 may be random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a solid state drive, memory card, a hard drive, optical disk, floppy disk, magnetic tape, or any other memory components.
The processor 812 may represent multiple processors and the memory device 820 may represent multiple memory units that operate in parallel to the processing circuits. This may provide parallel processing channels for the processes and data in the system. The local interface 818 may be used as a network to facilitate communication between any of the multiple processors and multiple memories. The local interface 818 may use additional systems designed for coordinating communication such as load balancing, bulk data transfer and similar systems.
While the flowcharts presented for this technology may imply a specific order of execution, the order of execution may differ from what is illustrated. For example, the order of two more blocks may be rearranged relative to the order shown. Further, two or more blocks shown in succession may be executed in parallel or with partial parallelization. In some configurations, one or more blocks shown in the flow chart may be omitted or skipped. Any number of counters, state variables, warning semaphores, or messages might be added to the logical flow for purposes of enhanced utility, accounting, performance, measurement, troubleshooting or for similar reasons.
The game described here may also be stored on a computer readable storage medium that includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented with any technology for the storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer readable storage media include, but is not limited to, non-transitory media such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other computer storage medium which may be used to store the desired information and described technology.
Reference was made to the examples illustrated in the drawings and specific language was used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the technology is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the features illustrated herein and additional applications of the examples as illustrated herein are to be considered within the scope of the description.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more examples. In the preceding description, numerous specific details were provided, such as examples of various configurations to provide a thorough understanding of examples of the described game.
Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/395,006, filed Sep. 15, 2016 which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62395006 | Sep 2016 | US |
