Patent Application
20060249900
The present disclosure is directed to board games, and more particularly to board games in which players move pairs of corresponding player movers on a pathway of a game board. Some embodiments include movement tokens each bearing movement indicia, such as a number, for example to indicate a number of spaces a player mover, or a pair of corresponding player movers, may be moved on the pathway. Some methods of game play may provide that each player moves an assigned pair of player movers on the pathway by moving each player mover individually and separately according to separate movement tokens selected by the player until both player movers of the assigned pair have been moved to occupy the same movement space, and then moving the pair of player movers together as a unit thereafter.
Examples of games wherein players collect and use movement tokens can be found in the disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,527,219; 3,643,957; 4,116,450; 4,434,984; 4,955,618; and UK Patent Application No. GB 2,189,159. Examples of games wherein players each control multiple, independently movable movers can be found in the disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 625,557; 1,136,106; 1,145,783; 1,527,219; 2,451,196; 4,078,803; 4,296,927; 4,913,443; 4,955,618; 5,433,450; 6,394,454; the Parker Brothers game of “Sorry;” and the traditional game of Pachisi and variants. All of the aforementioned disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.
Various embodiments of board games that include corresponding pairs of player movers are presented herein. Such embodiments may include game components including a game board having one or more pathways consisting of interconnected movement spaces, a plurality of pairs of corresponding player movers, a plurality of movement tokens each including movement indicia, and a plurality of game cards each including instructional or other game indicia.
Some methods of game play may provide that each player moves an assigned pair of player movers on a pathway by moving each player mover individually and separately according to separate movement tokens selected by the player until both player movers of the assigned pair have been moved to occupy the same movement space, and then moving the pair of player movers together as a unit thereafter. Such methods may further include moving one or both of a pair of player movers according to the instructional indicia on a player-selected game card.
Exemplary game components for the aforementioned games include a plurality of pairs of corresponding player movers. Each player mover in a corresponding pair may include indicia indicating correspondence with the other player mover, or such correspondence may be apparent from the game context, for example if a theme or backstory is used with the game. The pathway of the game board may consist of a plurality of interconnected movement spaces, which may collectively form one or more pathways traversing the game board, for example, leading generally from a “start” location to an “end” location. Some of the movement spaces may be designated to have particular significance during game play, such as by game indicia and/or by a set of rules. For example, a particular space may represent a location (e.g. “start,” “end,” and so forth), or indicate a game action that may occur if a player moves a player mover to that space (e.g. drawing a card, collecting a token, moving one or both movers of a pair to another location on the board, and so forth).
Other game components suitable for use with such games may include movement indicating means, such as randomizing devices like dice or spinners, semi-random means such as movement tokens or cards, or other means as appropriate or desired for the particular embodiment. For example, the illustrated embodiment includes a set of movement tokens, each of which bears numerical indicia to indicate the number of spaces that a player mover may be moved along a pathway.
Some embodiments may include one or more sets of game cards that bear instructional indicia that relate to game actions associated with the game cards, such as instructions for a player to move one or more selected player movers to a designated space, to take another turn, and so forth. Such game cards may be associated with certain predetermined game spaces, such that a player may draw a game card when the player moves a player mover onto, or past, such a space. For example, the game board of the illustrated embodiment includes several distinct “location” spaces, each of which corresponds to a distinct set of game cards, one of which may be drawn when a player moves a player mover to the corresponding location space.
As mentioned briefly above, some methods of game play suitable for use with the concepts and components discussed herein may involved each player attempting to move an assigned pair of movers on a game board pathway, for example from a “start” space to an “end” space, such as by selecting and using movement tokens and/or game cards. An exemplary method provides that each player moves each of the player movers of an assigned pair individually and separately according to separate movement tokens selected by the player until both player movers of the assigned pair have been moved to occupy the same movement space, and then moving the pair of player movers together as a unit thereafter. The exemplary method may further include moving one or both of a pair of corresponding player movers according to the instructional indicia on a player-selected game card.
For example, some embodiments may include one or more cards bearing instructional indicia indicating that a player may move one or both of a selected pair of movers in a manner designated on the card. More specifically, a card may instruct that a corresponding pair of movers that occupy the same movement space may be separated, by moving one of the movers to a movement space indicated as on the card chosen by the player, or otherwise determined. A card may instruct that a pair of movers may be separated by moving both to different movement spaces as indicated on the card, chosen by the player, and/or otherwise determined. A card may indicate that one mover of a pair may be moved to occupy the same movement space as the other. Such cards may optionally indicate whether the player's movers, or an opponent's, or those chosen by the player or otherwise determined, may be moved in the indicated manner.
In embodiments in which a goal of the game is to move both player movers of an assigned pair to a predetermined location, the game may include a strategic component, by incorporating a set of rules allowing a player to move a pair of player movers as a unit more efficiently than moving them separately and individually. Such embodiments may further offer opportunities for players to interfere with each others' progress, for example by separating another player's pair of player movers. In such embodiments, such opportunities may be presented as instructional indicia on movement spaces and/or game cards (as detailed above), provided for in a set of rules for use with the game, and so forth.
The board games and methods of the present disclosure will be understood more readily after a consideration of the drawings and the Detailed Description.
Referring to
The game board 12 can be seen to include a plurality of location spaces 30, interconnected by a plurality of movement spaces 32 that are arranged to collectively form a branching pathway that provides a number of possible routes leading generally from a “start” space 34 to an “end” space 36. Some of the movement spaces are shown to include indicia designating the space as an action space 38.
As shown, each location space 30 includes location indicia 40 distinguishing each location space from other location spaces 30. Location indicia 40 are arbitrarily shown as capital letters, but may take any appropriate or desired form that identifies the space as a location space, and/or that differentiates one location space from another location space. If the game incorporates a theme or backstory, game components may manifest such a theme by the inclusion of game indicia conveying one or more aspects of the theme. For example, a commercial embodiment of the game is based on a motion picture in which twin sisters attempt to travel from their home to the University via the New York City subway system; as such, the location indicia in this embodiment resemble landmarks, other features of New York City, and various scenes or plot points of the motion picture.
Analogously, although action spaces 38 include action indicia 42 (arbitrarily shown as a question mark), and “start” and “end” spaces 34, 36 are shown to be arbitrarily indicated by printed words, such indicia are provided only for the sake of illustration and may be varied as desired for a particular embodiment of the game. Thus, in the aforementioned commercial embodiment, the start space 34 may be indicated and/or illustrated as a “Home” space, and the end space 36 may be indicated and/or illustrated as a “University” space. Optionally, the “start” and “end” spaces 34, 36 may include indicia similar to the various location indicia 40, which may indicate that these spaces have significance during game play both as marking the respective ends of the branched pathway, but also represent separate location spaces 30.
Other movement spaces 32 may include arbitrary, decorative, and/or functional indicia, such as arrows 44, which may serve to indicate a direction of player mover movement along the various routes of the branched pathway. Also, although areas of the game board between and surrounding the pathways are shown to be undecorated, some embodiments may include game indicia as described above. The aforementioned commercial embodiment, for example, includes various decorative indicia and other structure that collectively resembles a stylized aerial view of New York City, with the various pathways representing subway lines interconnecting the locations represented by the location spaces.
Several player movers 14 are shown positioned on various spaces on game board 10. The game includes a plurality of pairs of corresponding player movers, which may take any appropriate form such that each of a corresponding pair of player movers includes indicia establishing a discernable correspondence between one player mover of a pair and the other. Two pairs of exemplary player movers are shown in more detail in
Optionally, although not shown in the drawings, the player movers of a corresponding pair may include additional indicia to distinguish the player movers of each pair from each other. For example, in a pair of player movers that correspond in terms of color, each may include a different symbol or graphic to distinguish one from the other. As another example, in the aforementioned commercial embodiment, each pair of player movers collectively represents the twin sisters attempting to travel to the University. In such an embodiment, each twin is represented differently on each of a corresponding pair of player movers, in various manners, such as by different facial expressions, wardrobes, hair styles, and so forth. However, analogous to indicia that distinguish a pair of player movers from other pairs of player movers, secondary characteristics that distinguish each player mover of a given pair from each other may take any appropriate form.
As discussed in more detail below, in some methods of game play, the player movers may be moved among the various pathways by means of movement tokens 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the movement tokens are shown to be flat, circular discs with a front side 60 marked with movement indicia 62, shown as a number “1,” “2,” “3,” or “4.” Each movement token also includes a back side 64, shown to be featureless, such that the movement tokens are indistinguishable from the back side.
As mentioned briefly above, the movement indicating means of the illustrated embodiment include movement tokens 16. Other embodiments may include variations of such movement tokens, for example by including differently shaped tokens, a different range of numerical indicia, movement indicia represented in a manner other than by numbers, and so forth. Optionally, the movement tokens may include any suitable form of additional indicia, including decorative and/or trade dress indicia. For example, in the aforementioned commercial embodiment, the movement tokens resemble subway tokens. Of course, in embodiments that do not include movement tokens, movement indicating means may take any desired configuration.
In methods of play suitable for use with the illustrated embodiment, some or all of the game cards, such as action cards 18 and/or location cards 20, also may be used to move movers along the pathway. As shown in greater detail in
For example, as discussed above, some embodiments may include cards indicating that a pair of corresponding player movers occupying the same movement space may be separated by moving one (or both) to a different movement space(s). Details relating to such game actions may include which player's mover or movers are moved, the number of movers moved (one or both), the movement space(s) to which the one or movers are moved, and so forth, and may be determined in any number of suitable manners. Such details may be designated on the card, provided in a set of rules, determined by the player playing the card, randomly determined, and so forth.
Thus, for example, an action card may specifically instruct a player to “SEPARATE AN OPPONENT'S MOVERS BY MOVING ONE TO THE START SPACE.”
Another example may indicate “SEPARATE YOUR OWN MOVERS BY MOVING ONE TO THE NEAREST LOCATION SPACE BEHIND YOU AND THE OTHER TO THE NEAREST LOCATION SPACE IN FRONT OF YOU.”
Yet another example may indicate “SEPARATE ANY PLAYER'S MOVERS BY MOVING ONE OR BOTH TO ANY SPACE(S) YOU CHOOSE.”
Yet another example may indicate “TURN OVER THE TOP MOVEMENT TOKEN ON THE STACK; IF EVEN, SEPARATE YOUR OWN MOVERS BY MOVING ONE TO THE START SPACE; IF ODD, SEPARATE AN OPPONENT'S MOVERS IN THE SAME MANNER.”
Analogously, some embodiments may include cards indicating that a pair of corresponding player movers occupying different movement spaces may be moved to occupy the same movement space. As above, relevant details of such game actions may be determined in any suitable manner. For example, an action card may specifically instruct a player to “JOIN YOUR PLAYER MOVERS BY MOVING TO THE SUBWAY STATION SPACE.”
Back sides 74 of action cards 18 are shown to be similarly configured, so that the action cards are indistinguishable when viewed from the back side. Other embodiments thus may include any alternative or additional indicia, such as decorative and/or trade dress indicia, and so forth.
The illustrated embodiment includes several sets of location cards 20, in addition to the set of action cards 18. As described in greater detail below, location cards may be used by the players to collect additional movement tokens during the game and/or in connection with other game actions. As shown in greater detail in
The instructional indicia of the exemplary location card is shown to include fanciful phrasing (“USE YOUR KARATE . . . ”) as well as instructions for a game action (“DRAW 4 MOVEMENT TOKENS”). Such fanciful phrasing may enhance enjoyment of the game for some players, such as by recalling aspects of a theme or backstory upon which the game is based, or simply by adding a whimsical element to game play. Other embodiments may include such fanciful phrasing in addition to game action instructions, or the game action instructions may themselves be fancifully phrased, as appropriate to the embodiment.
Also, as mentioned previously, the exemplary instructional indicia 82 shown are for illustrative purposes only, since the instructions or game actions indicated on the game cards may relate to the nature of the embodiment of the game 10. Also, back side 84 of each location card 18 of a particular set is shown to be similarly configured, so that the location cards of each set are indistinguishable when viewed from the back side. Other embodiments thus may include any alternative or additional indicia, such as decorative and/or trade dress indicia, and so forth.
Although the action cards 18 and location cards 20 of the illustrated embodiment are shown to include the same action indicia 42 and location indicia 40 represented on the action spaces 38 and location spaces 30 of exemplary game board 12, other embodiments may use different configurations of indicia to identify correspondence between cards (or sets of cards) and specifically-designated game board spaces. As a simple example, an embodiment of the game board with a location space that features an illustration of a subway station (as location indicia) may correspond to a set of location cards each including the words “SUBWAY STATION” on the back side, instead of an illustration.
Also, the various game cards described above include two types of game cards (e.g., action cards 18 and location cards 20), which are described above to differ in terms of the manner in which the cards correspond to some of the game spaces on the game board. The types of game cards also differ in the nature of the card indicia; as mentioned briefly above, the location cards may be directed more toward providing opportunities for players to draw additional movement tokens, whereas the action cards may be directed more toward game actions involving movement of the player movers. Of course, other embodiments of the game may include a different number of types of game cards, as desired, and distinctions, if any, among various sets of game cards may be configured as appropriate to achieve a desired type of game play.
As described in more detail below, the types of game cards may also differ in terms of how they are used in game play, which may be articulated in a set of rules for game play. In particular, although a player may draw an appropriate game card when one of the player's movers is moved to a corresponding space, an exemplary set of rules may provide that one type of game card, such as location cards 20, must be played immediately; that is, the player who draws a location card must follow the instructional indicia thereon, and resolve any game actions associated therewith, before game play resumes. In contrast, another type of game card, such as action cards 18, may be collected by the players and played at a player's option; that is, a player who draws an action card may keep or hold the card and opt to follow the instructional indicia thereon, and resolve any associated game actions, at the player's option. Moreover, the rules may specify that a player may require a selected opponent to follow the instructional indicia on a player-selected action card.
An exemplary method of game play utilizing the concepts and components discussed above is outlined in the paragraphs below. Games may be played by multiple players, each of which chooses a pair of player movers for movement on the game board. As described in greater detail below, the method involves collecting movement tokens and using the tokens to move both movers from a start space (such as a “Home” location space in a commercial embodiment) to an end space (such as a “University” location space in a commercial embodiment). Aspects of the exemplary method may be articulated in a set of rules or other printed matter that may accompany a game. For example, an exemplary set of rules for a commercial embodiment of the game is included with the “New York Minute—The Movie” board game by Mattel, Inc., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
A set of rules for the illustrated embodiment may provide that the various game components are set up prior to initiating game play as follows: the location cards 20 are separated into sets based on the location indicia 40 on the back side and each set is placed face-down around game board 12, and the action cards 18 are shuffled and placed in a stack face-down near the game board. Each player selects a set of player movers 14 and places both movers on the “start” space 34. Finally, the movement tokens 16 are shuffled, a predetermined number are distributed to each player, and the remainder are placed face-down near the game board.
Play proceeds with players taking turns playing movement tokens to move their movers generally toward the “end” space 36. The rules of the illustrated embodiment may provide that each player begins the game with four movement tokens, and that each player may select and “play” one token by moving one of that player's set of movers on the pathway the number of spaces indicated on the token.
As such, each player attempts to move both movers along the pathway separately and individually, by using the movement tokens. However, if both players of a player's pair have been moved to occupy the same space, the pair of player movers may be moved together as a unit thereafter.
Once a movement token is played in the aforementioned manner, the rules may provide that the movement token is discarded. However, some of the game components may include instructional indicia allowing players to draw additional movement tokens, for example as shown by the exemplary location cards of
The rules may further provide that game cards may be drawn and/or other game actions may occur if players move one or both player movers onto, or past, a particular space. If a player mover lands on a location space 40, for example, the rules provide that the player draws a location card 20 from the set of location cards that correspond to the location space, and immediately follows the instructional indicia thereon, such that any game actions associated with the instructional indicia on the played location card are resolved before game play resumes. The location card is then discarded (or returned to the bottom of the stack of location cards from which it was drawn).
Also, if a player mover lands on an action space 38, the rules provide that the player draws an action card 18. However, the player may choose to play the action card or hold it. If played, the player may choose whether to follow the instructional indicia on the action card or to require another player to follow the instructions. After an action card is played, it is discarded (or placed on the bottom of the stack of action cards). In the exemplary set of rules, a player may hold up to five action cards, but may play only one per turn.
As such, the exemplary method may further include moving one or both of a pair of corresponding player movers according to the instructional indicia on a player-selected game card. Play continues in this manner, with players attempting to move both of their movers to the “end” space, with the first player who succeeds in doing so being declared as the winner.
In the exemplary embodiment, each player's movement resources are limited to the movement tokens and action cards held by the player. Thus, the rules may provide (and methods of game play may include) moving one or both player movers backward on the pathway and/or to a predetermined space (for example, the nearest location space 30) if a player has no movement tokens available. However, as mentioned above, some location cards allow players to draw additional movement tokens. Thus, aspects of game play may involve a strategic element, with each player attempting to allocate resources to achieve the greater advantage, and by playing movement tokens and action cards to facilitate his or her own progress and/or to hinder the progress of one or more opponents.
As mentioned above, some embodiments may include instructional indicia on action cards and/or other game cards that involve moving one of a pair of player movers separately from the other. Thus, in such embodiments, a player's strategy may be frustrated by an opponent required to follow the instructions on a played action card, such as by separating a pair of movers that occupy the same movement space, by moving one player mover backward or otherwise away from the “end” space, and so forth.
Several aspects of this exemplary method of game play may be modified from that disclosed above, and may be reflected in the set of rules to accompany the game. The rules may thus be configured to provide a game with a desired degree of complexity or difficulty, for example to adapt the game to players of a predetermined age range. Thus, some embodiments may initially provide each player with a greater number of movement tokens and/or provide a greater number of opportunities for players to collect additional movement tokens, some sets of rules may provide that players may not require opponents to follow instructions on action cards, and so forth.
This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/678,716 entitled “Board Games with Movement Tokens” and filed on May 6, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60678716 | May 2005 | US |
