Patent Application
20100289216
The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing a customizable educational board game, with both digital and material aspects.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which a claim for copyright is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all other copyright rights whatsoever.
Educational institutions often seek out ways to present coursework in a way that is both fun and educational to the student body. Further, group learning has unique benefits, allowing a greater educational experience when used in conjunction with individual learning. Often times, games are played that impart educational information to a student, so that the enjoyment of learning is increased. However, the coursework within a single formative year of education is expansive, diverse, and ever changing as educational theory is improved and refined. Thus, certain specific games are used as specific points in the material, as a supplement to the normal lesson plan. Also, these games, are often replaced or rendered outdated. Even games with some degree of customization have an extremely limited set of options, and are usually presented in computerized form, since it is expensive to provide different variations of a material real space game.
Example embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a customizable and educational board game, with associated software. The inventive aspects of the present invention relate to both the construction (e.g., elements, assembly, design, etc.) and execution (e.g., play) of the game. Software may be associated with either or both of these aspects, providing tools for customization, and/or an interactive element/supplement to game play. In this way, the full adaptability of computerized systems, in conjunction with an ordinary home printer, affords the user a fully customizable game in material form, with accompanying electronic elements. Alternative embodiments may include a completely electronic version of game play, where players share a computer for group play, play against computer implemented competitors (e.g., Artificial Intelligence), or play against other people with a plurality of computers, either geographically distributed or at a single location, which computers are connected via a network.
An example embodiment of the present invention may include a game board including multiple interconnected and interchangeable segments, each segment including a plurality of game elements, the majority of which contain educational information related to a segment theme. The board may also include a time keeping segment for determining the game end. The board may be defined as a subset of a large plurality of available game segments, including fully customizable game segments based on a template. Each segment may be smaller than the customary printing area of a standard personal computer printer. The creation, selection, definition and construction of the game segments may be facilitated by templates and tools available on accompanying software, which may also print each segment on a standard size piece of paper. The printed segment may be smaller in area than the paper on which it is printed, and may require cropping with scissors before constructing the game board. The software may also facilitate the customization and printing of game currency/points, and game cards that are associated with the informational game elements. The software may also facilitate the customization and printing of game quizzes related to the information in the game segments. The software may also facilitate the customization and printing of a time keeping segment.
The printed and/or electronically presented items may be configured such that players may play a game on them using other game pieces. The board and pieces may be configured to facilitate the play of a game including the following. (1) Players roll dice and move, in the direction indicated by game arrows or directions, from a starting position towards an end position according to the number rolled. (2) The player performs a predefined action dependent on the type of game element the player lands on. (3) Via the different elements, the player may win or lose game points. (4) Upon a pre-determined event, the timer token is advanced, and upon a pre-determined end point reached by the timer token, the game may end. (5) The point total of each player may determine the winner. (6) Optionally, game quizzes may be given in association with a game play, and those quizzes may provide bonus points. The game may be replayed as is, reconfigured, or completely changed. In this way, each game segment is completely modular for reuse in alternative game board arrangements.
Thus, an example embodiment may include software, a printed game board with accessories, and electronic or printed quizzes. The software may include tools to customize substantive aspects of the other materials, including game segments and quizzes.
Another example embodiment may include a system for providing an electronic and material game, including a database and processor. The database may be configured to store game segment templates and default game elements, in addition to user defined game elements and game segments. The system may present a template and various tools for defining new game segments to be stored in the database. The system may facilitate the defining of a new game board, using the stored game segments, and communicate with a printer to print out the game board segments. The pieces may be designed such that they can be combined by the user, after printing, into a single logical game.
Additional embodiments include the system where each game element is a piece of information, and all of the pieces on a particular game segment are related by a segment title or theme. Additionally, the segments may have other elements with different defined functions for game play. The game may include game cards that may correspond to elements of the game segments. The game cards may include a section corresponding to a game segment and an indication of how much the card is worth.
Example embodiments may include a supplemental game quiz, which may be generated by the system/user. The quiz may be presented on an electronic system for interaction by a user, or the quiz may be printed and administered on paper. The user may customize the quizzes, which may be based on the game segments associated with a defined game board. The associated quizzes may have a timing mechanism. Example embodiments may include a time keeping segment as part of the game board. Example embodiments may include a network connection for sharing game segments and boards, and for utilizing game segments and boards from distributed systems.
An example embodiment may include game segments of a half-octagon shape, such that four segments fit together to substantially form a large square or plus-sign shape, with a smaller square “hole” in the center where a similarly sized time keeper segment is placed. The combined pieces may form a logically contiguous game path for players to follow.
Example embodiments may include a board game kit, comprising a plurality of polygonal shaped segments, each having a plurality of game elements on both sides, the plurality of segments arranged to be logically or actually connected to each other, and the plurality of game elements arranged to form one or more logically interconnected paths regardless of which side of the segment is exposed.
The example board game kit may include a plurality of game cards associated with the plurality of game elements. The board of the example embodiment may be formed by placing a connecting edge of a polygonal shaped segment adjacent to a corresponding connecting edge of another polygonal shaped segment. The connecting edge may be an edge other than the segment's longest edge. Each segment may have half a game element at the edge of their connecting edges, so as to form a whole game element when the polygonal segments are attached. The example polygonal segments may be formed by affixing a board segment made of paper or similar to a rigid material of substantially the same shape. A second board segment may be affixed to the opposite side to form the two sided game segment.
Game segments and boards may be constructed with magnetic properties, which may provide flexibility in configuring and reconfiguring boards. For example, the rigid material to which printouts are affixed may be magnetic, and a magnetic base may be provided that is large enough for each segment to be affixed via the magnetic attraction of the segments and base. Alternatively, magnetic sheets capable of being run through a home printer are also available on the market, and could be used in conjunction with the example embodiments disclosed herein. These segments may allow a segment to be displayed on one side or both sides of the surface. Ideally, a two-sided segment configuration would include a structure magnetized on both sides, or otherwise configured to ensure an attraction in either orientation. Alternatively, a magnetic board may be used with traditional magnets, and regular board segments. That is, segments may be clamped in place on the board like a note on the refrigerator, and turned upside down by the removal and resetting of the clamping magnets.
Example embodiments of the present invention are directed to one or more processors, which may be implemented using any conventional processing circuit and device or combination thereof, e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a Personal Computer (PC) or other workstation processor, to execute code provided, e.g., on a hardware computer-readable medium including any conventional memory device, to perform any of the methods described herein, alone or in combination. Those methods include steps, described herein, for generating a game board and/or associated material, such as quizzes, game cards, and time and token movement control elements, for example, based on user input received via a user interface device, such as a touch-screen, keyboard, mouse, etc. Those methods also include steps, described herein, for game play on a computing device, for example in accordance with user input, including, for example, movement of tokens in accordance with a token movement control element and user input decisions, such as path selection, and other user input, such as answers to single questions, taking of quizzes, a segment-flip instruction, etc.
The one or more processors may be embodied in a server or user terminal or combination thereof. The user terminal may be embodied, for example, a desktop, laptop, hand-held device, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), television set-top Internet appliance, mobile telephone, smart phone, etc., or as a combination of one or more thereof. The memory device may include any conventional permanent and/or temporary memory circuits or combination thereof, a non-exhaustive list of which includes Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Compact Disks (CD), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), and magnetic tape.
Example embodiments of the present invention are directed to one or more hardware computer-readable media, e.g., as described above, having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor to perform the methods described herein or portions thereof.
Example embodiments of the present invention are directed to the methods, e.g., computer-implemented methods, for example, of a hardware component(s) or machine(s), described herein, or portions thereof.
Example embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method, e.g., of a hardware component(s) or machine(s), of transmitting instructions executable by a processor to perform the methods described herein, or portions thereof.
Example embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a customizable and educational board game, with associated software. The inventive aspects of the present invention relate to both the construction (e.g., elements, assembly, design, etc.) and execution (e.g., play) of the game. Software may be associated with either or both of these aspects, providing tools for customization, and/or an interactive element/supplement to game play. This detailed description will outline each of these aspects in turn.
Example embodiment of the present invention are directed to a system that facilitates generation of an educational board game and/or for providing an interactive computerized educational game according to the various methods described herein.
Example embodiments of the present invention are directed to the various methods described herein for generating an educational game, for playing an educational game, and/or keeping score for a played game.
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to hardware computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor, the instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the various methods described herein.
One example implementation of the present invention may include multiple modular/interchangeable game segments. For example, a game segment is illustrated in
The game elements may include elements independent of the main board. Examples may include: identifying tokens (e.g., a uniquely colored game piece), a timer token, a random number generator (e.g., dice), a game metric (e.g., play money), and game cards. Any token that fits on the game board may be used to represent a player's position in the game, but the game set may come with a standard set of uniquely colored game pieces. Any random number generator may be used to determine player progressions, but the game set may come with one or more standard six-sided dice, other types of dice, a computerized random number generator, or some combination of these. Further, any game metric used to keep track of the progress of each player could be used. In one example embodiment of the present invention, cards of different denominations of “travel points” are held by each player to measure their progress, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 2A(a)-(c).
The main portion of the actual board game consists of interchangeable, sectional polygonal pieces. Within each piece, several game “spots” are presented. Between each spot, directional arrows may be presented to define the direction a player on the spot must move. Generally, each segment will include two categories of spots. First, the majority of spots, e.g., game elements 120, may relate to one or more game cards (as described in detail below) and/or include informational items which may be used for teaching the informational items. Second, one or more types of “action” spots may provide additional game dynamics independent of the game cards. Examples of these may include, game element 123, game element 126, and game element 128. Game elements 123 and 126 will be described further, in the context of game play. Game element 128, as illustrated by matching half circles, is used to provide logical continuity between the interchangeable segments. As illustrated, once lined up with the other segments to create the board, each circle spot 128 has two paths a player may choose from, there being two directional arrows pointed into the circle spot 128 and two directional arrows pointed out from the circle spot 128. Alternatively or additionally, the rules may specify which path a player must take (e.g., a path into the segment from which the player did not enter the circle). In another embodiment, the game may be played without all four segments.
The second portion that forms part of the actual board, is the time keeping segment, e.g.,
The game segments, e.g.
An advantageous consequence of the board being constructed of interchangeable segments is that each segment may be printed on a standard computer printer with a common paper size format (e.g., 8.5″×11″). Though most printers allow for substantially thick paper or cardstock to be used (e.g., “photo-paper”), a user of an example embodiment may find it beneficial to attach the printed segment to a thicker/stronger base. This may be done in a number of ways. For example, the kit may provide four properly shaped rigid objects with a translucent cover into which the printed segments may be inserted. Alternatively, a user may purchase cardstock, poster-board, cardboard, or similarly durable material. The user may then attach (e.g., glue or clamp) the printed game segment to the durable material. The game segments may be attached to similarly sized durable segments, or affixed to a durable surface large enough to accommodate all of the pieces. One example embodiment will provide for a printed game segment to be glued to a substantially identically shaped board, with another printed game segment glued to the reverse side. Thus, the user may select the reverse or obverse side of the board for use in the current game, and select the other side for some future game.
An advantage of example embodiments of the present invention is that ideal construction of the customizable board relies on materials easily accessible in most areas, such as a home/classroom computer with printer, and additional consumer materials from an office supply store (e.g., poster-board, scissors, glue, etc.). It may be appreciated that all of the items can be acquired fairly easily, but the initial kit may also come with starter supplies, including scissors, glue sticks, properly shaped cardboard pieces, a starter selection of game pieces, etc. Those items may be provided along with the software and various game pieces, dice, etc. Additionally, materials may be conserved by affixing new game segments over previous game segments, if those segments are no longer needed.
An example embodiment of the present invention may facilitate the following game play. First, each player may select an identifying token (e.g., from a set of uniquely colored game pieces), and places his or her token on a “traffic-circle” (e.g., game element 128). Additionally, a token is placed on a game element of the center circle (e.g., game element 130), which acts as the time keeper. Each player begins the game with a set number of travel points, (e.g., 5000). Travel points may be recorded on paper, an electronic device, or through denominated currency (e.g., play money). Next, each player is dealt some initial number of game cards (e.g., 3) to be held face-up. After the players determine an order, the first player will roll one six-sided die. Any other random number generator is also possible, such as one or more N-sided dice, a software application, or a partitioned spin-dial. For example, numbers may be pre-printed in game element 130, and the center circle may include a spinning dial for each player to spin, where the number the dial lands on is the random number for the player's turn. Such an embodiment would preferably be arranged to not disrupt the time keeper token.
Based upon the resulting number of the die role, the first player will move from the initially selected travel-circle (e.g., game element 128) to a spot on the board corresponding to the resulting number. The player follows the direction indicated by arrows found between elements. When more than one arrow leaves a particular spot, the player may select which path to follow. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the game may be played on a computer system via a user interface, and the system may allow or disallow a directional movement according to stored rules. Each game spot may have different rules associated with it, as an aspect of game play. An example embodiment of the game spots illustrated in
In an example embodiment of the present invention, landing on game element 123 may provide the player an opportunity to move to any spot on the game board for a point-fee (e.g., 1000 points). When a player lands on the circle spot, game element 128, the player may have to pay a “travel tax” of some amount (e.g., 1000 points). Landing on or passing the circle may also trigger a movement by the timer token, advancing the end of the game one unit. In addition to the dynamics of each spot, other player rules may be defined for example embodiments. For example, when a player lands on a game spot occupied by another player, the first player may be allowed to exchange a game card with the second player at the sole discretion of the first player. Additionally, as discussed next, when a player redeems a game card and the color of the game card matches the color currently occupied by the timer token (assuming multi-matching colors of game element 130), the player may get a bonus of some amount (e.g., double the face value of the card). Further, once a player “uses” a card, example game rules may provide that the player is to select a new game card.
The majority of the spots may include game elements 120, and comprise the bulk of the game dynamic. In this example embodiment, these game elements along with matching game cards provide the players the opportunity to collect game points for correct answers to questions (preferably educational). In one example embodiment the question may always be the same, e.g., “Is the information in the game spot correctly associated with the segment title 110?” For example, the segment title may be “adjectives,” and the six game element spots 120 of that segment may include: eagerly, green, grass, easy, pretty, and large. Further, each player may have some number of game cards. An example game card is illustrated in
The player may land on any one of game elements 120. If the player does not have an associated game card, then the player may wait for his or her next turn. If however, the player does have an associated game card, the player may indicate whether the segment title/category matches the game element 120. Using the example above, if the player landed on the game element 120 containing the word “grass,” and that player had the game card containing the same word “grass,” then the player may now have an opportunity to win the points on the card. In this embodiment, the question for the player is indicated as the segment title, e.g., adjectives. The word on the card, that also matches the word on the game element 120 the player landed on, may be an adjective or may be another type of word. Here, grass is a noun. Thus, when the player lands on this spot and has the associated card, that player may win the points on the card if the player correctly indicates that the word “grass” is not an adjective. Had the player landed on the game element 120 with the word “green,” and also had that card, the player would win the points indicated on the card if that player indicated that “green” was an adjective. Thus, if the player gets the question right, the player will win the number of points indicated on the game card (e.g.,
As a result of each function of the different game elements, play may continue, each player in turn, receiving and surrendering game points. Upon a pre-designated event (e.g., whenever a player lands on a game element 128 or after each player has had a turn) the timer token may be advanced one unit. Play continues until the timer token reaches the original position, and the player with the most game points is the winner. The length of the game may be controlled by determining the number of game elements 130, or pre-defining an end location for the timer token. Ties may be resolved with additional play, by some other method, or may be left a tie.
Any number of other supplemental rules and game dynamics are possible. For example, in the embodiment where game segments are constructed by affixing a game segment to both the obverse and reverse side, e.g., where those segments are related, the game may actually be played with twice as many game segments. In this example embodiment, the game cards may include the matching cards for all eight segments. Further, a player may be allowed to flip a game segment over. Taking such an action may cost the player some number of points and/or the forfeiture of a turn. This option may require that no players be present on that game segment to be flipped over, or alternatively, players may be relocated to the corresponding game spot on the newly exposed side. This may add another dynamic to the game, as players flip game segments offensively (e.g., to redeem a game card not currently exposed on the board) or defensively (e.g., to prevent another player from redeeming a game card from a game segment currently exposed on the board). In addition to the added enjoyment of another game dynamic, this arrangement may force players to take a greater awareness of all the game spots (e.g., all the educational information on the board, not just their own three game cards), which may provide a greater educational experience with the game.
The example embodiments may also include game quizzes, as discussed further below. Quizzes, either electronic or printed, may include a blank game segment. The quiz may also include a corresponding number of information correctly associated with the category, or otherwise correct (e.g., “2+3=5”). The quiz may also include a corresponding number of incorrect information. The quiz may then be taken by a player, and that player may be awarded points based on the outcome. This may be given as a pre-game bonus, a post-game bonus, or as part of the game play itself. The quizzes are particularly useful in game embodiments where the board contains only correct information, and questions are not part of the actual game segment dynamic. However, the quizzes are still beneficial in providing added exposure and evaluation of the information presented on the game segments, regardless of the composition of the information.
The board game kit may come with associated software. This software may be used in the design of the game segments and also as part of game play.
The creation portion of the software has, for example, two primary tasks. The first is the creation or selection of the game segments and corresponding game cards. For example,
As illustrated in
While preloaded quizzes and maps may be provided, additional tools may be available for constructing, editing, and otherwise modifying the various segments and elements used to construct a board, including user defined quizzes.
Once all of the desired game segments have been defined, a user may construct a board including some number of game segments. In this example embodiment, the user may have to choose a set quantity of four.
The user may be given the option of generating one or more associated quizzes automatically from the information associated with the selected game segments. Alternatively, the user may select a predefined quiz or construct a new quiz to be associated with the game. In this way, nearly every aspect of the game play material is fully customizable by the user. An example of a computer based quiz is illustrated in
Additional features may be fully customizable with the software. For example, the font used, the font size, and the formatting may all be adjusted for each element or all elements. Background art, borders, or other graphics may be added to each element. The travel points metric may be changed to some relevant currency. For example, for a game on U.S. cities, play money resembling U.S. currency may be used. For a game on Europe, Euros or the pre-EU historical currencies of the relevant nations may be used. For a game on the industrial revolution, stock certificates of the primary corporations may be used. All of these options may be fully customizable within the software, for printing prior to game play. Similarly, the user may be given a customization option for the center board section. The user may select from a predefined time keeping segment, e.g.,
In addition to facilitating the customization and construction of the game, as described above, the software may be used to facilitate the administering of quizzes, which may form a part of the game play experience.
The quiz does not need to be administered by the software. The customization and construction aspects of the software allow for paper quizzes to be created automatically and/or manually to be printed out.
Users may also be given scorecards based on their quiz performance.
Additionally, students may be given the quiz during game play, at a certain time. For example, instead of or in addition to the rules previously outlined for game element 123 and/or 126, landing on these spots may allow a player to take a quiz for bonus points. For example, a player may land on game element 126, and be given a number of quizzes based on the numbers inside the flags (e.g., by themselves, or as related to numbers on the dice). If quizzes are administered during the game, it should either be done with a game board that contains both correct and incorrect pieces of information, or the player should be required to take the quiz without looking at the board. Quizzes may be administered one game segment at a time, corresponding to the number of game segments on the board (e.g., four), or any number of other game segments. Further, quizzes may match the game segments of the board, or present game segments that are not being used on the board.
The game software may be provided in any format, as is known in the art, to implement the inventive embodiments described above. Additional system features are also possible. For example, the software may access a network connection, and system users may be able to share their game segments, quizzes, and boards with other system users. In this respect, a central database or peer-to-peer connections may allow the software repository of pre-made elements to be as large as the sum of every user who has constructed/defined a game segment. The material made by others may be distributed freely at their discretion, or may be sold at the discretion of the creator and/or the copyright owner of the software.
Any suitable memory device or combination of memory devices may be used for storing programs and/or data for the implementation of the described methods. For example, the memory devices may include RAM, ROM, disk drives, and/or tape drives. Any suitable processing device embodied in any conventional form may be used for execution of programs for processing data to perform the described computer methods. For example, a PC, laptop, PDA, etc. may be used.
Those skilled in the art can appreciate from the foregoing description that the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/179,232, filed on May 18, 2009, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61179232 | May 2009 | US |
