Patent Application
20140300052
This invention relates to strategy games and more particularly relates to a multi-level game board configured to play a strategy game by advancing marbles towards an innermost apex of a pyramid while interacting with opposing players.
1. Description of the Related Art
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that throughout history, there have been many embodiments of both games that utilize marbles. The marble is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses.
Often, marbles is a game played by children with small, round glass balls. The balls vary in size. Usually they are about ½ inch to 1 inch in diameter, but they may range from less than 1/30 inch to over 3 inches.
Typically, the marble games have been played in many countries, but the rules are made up by the players, and there are many variations. One standard idea is to have a target marble. Players flick their marbles with their thumbnail, and try to hit the target. Another version is where players try to hit each other's marbles out of a target zone.
Typically, a board game is a game that involves counters or pieces moved or placed on a pre-marked surface or board, according to a set of rules. Games can be based on pure strategy, chance (e.g. rolling dice) or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal that a player aims to achieve. Most current board games are based on defeating opposing players in terms of counters, winning position or accrual of points.
Most board games may involve both luck and strategy. But an important feature of them is the amount of randomness or luck involved, as opposed to skill. Some games, such as chess, depend almost entirely on player skill. But many children's games are decided principally by luck. A player may be hampered by a few poor rolls of the dice, but over many games a good player will win more often. While some purists consider luck not to be a desirable component of a game, others counter that elements of luck can make for far more diverse and multi-faceted strategies, as concepts such as expected value and risk management must be considered.
Typically, a strategy game is a game in which the player's decision making determines influences the outcome significantly. They are usually board games, computer or video games, card games, or another type of game. Several games include strategy extensively, while others to a lesser degree, complicating demarcation. It is sometimes more accurate to say that some games have strategic elements, rather than being a strategy game; however, this depends on the game. The deciding factor separating strategy game from other genres is that there is either no or relatively less chance involved. Usually, the only physical element is the interaction with the game pieces, although there are exceptions. Players have similar starting positions or situations, but use strategy to gain advantages over others.
Even though the above cited marble strategy games address some of the needs of the market, a strategy game for providing a unique challenge to players and developing decision making and foresight is still desired.
From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a game board and method for playing a strategy game. Beneficially, such a game board and method would provide a pyramid shaped game board that requires players to utilize stratagem to be first to reach the pyramid apex with their last marble or to eliminate all of each other's playing pieces.
The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available strategy games. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a game board and method for playing a strategy game that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art.
The strategy game includes a multi-level game board configured to provide a plurality of players with a challenging field for devising stratagems in response to constantly changing game variables while developing decision making skills. The multi-level game board in the described embodiments utilizes a plurality of sets of playing pieces. Each set of playing pieces serves to differentiate between the players, and also mark a player's position on the multi-level game board. In some embodiments, each set of playing pieces bears an identifying indicium for that set. The identifying indicium may include, without limitation, color, logos, graphics, texture, and shape.
In some embodiments, each set of playing pieces comprises a plurality of individual playing pieces. The plurality of playing pieces constitutes a player's representative on the multi-level game board. The plurality of playing pieces may be fabricated from material made to look like a known object, such as a scale model of a person, animal, or inanimate object, or otherwise general symbol. The playing pieces may include, without limitation, marbles, chips, figurines, counters, tokens, bits, meeples, movers, pawns, and a man. Each player may control one or more playing pieces. In the present invention, a winning player is determined by both the final position and quantity of playing pieces in the player's possession.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the multi-level game board is configured to be divided into a matrix of spaces. Each space includes a physical unit of progress on the multi-level game board delimited by a distinct border. Each space defines a unique position on the board on which a playing piece may be located while in play. In some embodiments, each space comprises a circular depression configured to hold a single marble playing piece. The player advances each playing piece at least one space across the multi-level game board towards an innermost perimeter, whereby the inner most perimeter is disposed to surround a single central space at an uppermost level of the multi-level game board.
In some embodiments, the multi-level game board depicts a pyramid. However, in other embodiments, the multi-level may conform to a variety of polygonal shapes. The multi-level game board is configured to form a plurality of concentric perimeters, with each perimeter comprising a separate level of the pyramid. In one embodiment, the pyramid comprises six levels. However more or less levels may be utilized. An innermost perimeter is disposed to surround the single central space, which is the central space forming an uppermost level. The multi-level game board also includes an outermost perimeter that forms a lowermost level. The outermost perimeter at least partially comprises a plurality of starting areas, where each player initially starts with the set of playing pieces.
The game board is further configured, in one embodiment, to create a challenging field, whereby a plurality of players utilize stratagem to be first to reach the central space at the pyramid apex. The player must further eliminate at least one opposing player by jumping over at least one opposing player playing piece, while avoiding the same fate.
A method of the present invention is also presented for playing the strategy game. The method in the disclosed embodiments substantially includes the steps necessary to carry out the functions presented above with respect to the multi-level game board. In one embodiment, the method includes starting with the plurality of sets of playing pieces positioned on the multi-level game board. Each player may select from a desired set of like playing pieces. Initially, the plurality of playing pieces is positioned in the starting area, with each playing piece occupying a space. In some embodiments, the starting area may be disposed at an outermost perimeter of the multi-level game board, whereby each player has facilitated access to the starting area and the playing pieces. The starting area includes a rectangular shape having fifteen playing pieces, and aligns along a game board edge. However, the starting area can also include a triangular shape that is disposed to position on a corner of the game board. In this manner, a 30″ diameter board may sufficiently support play for up to eight players.
The method also may include moving each playing piece at least one space across the multi-level game board towards an open space in the innermost perimeter of the multi-level game board. The inner most perimeter is disposed to surround the single central space, which forms an apex at an uppermost level of the multi-level game board. In this manner, the plurality of players must follow an upward, 3 dimensional trajectory to reach the final goal of the central space. However, the player must move all of the own playing pieces from the starting area prior to advancing to the center space. The player may advance towards the central space by moving to the next available space. The player may advance towards the central space by jumping over at least one own playing piece. The player can also advance by jumping over, at least one opposing player playing piece. In this manner, the player can advance over or eliminate the opposing player playing piece.
In a further embodiment, the method includes removing an eliminated playing piece from the multi-level game board to a playing piece elimination area. The step of moving the eliminated playing pieces to the playing piece elimination area may serve not only to clear the game board of superfluous playing pieces, but also allows the plurality of players to take better account of the amount of own playing pieces and opposing player playing pieces available for play. In some embodiments, the method provides for winning the strategy game by reaching the central space first with a final playing piece or eliminating all the opposing player playing pieces. However, the player is not allowed to reach the central space until only one own playing piece is available, whereby the rest of the own playing pieces must have been eliminated by the at least one opposing player. Those skilled in the art, in light of the prior teachings, will recognize that this restriction may force the player to apply a counterintuitive strategy of positioning the own playing pieces in an area of the game board so as to be eliminated by the at least one opposing player, while also avoiding to eliminate the at least one opposing player playing pieces. The stratagems may change with every new game as the number of players, playing pieces, and starting areas change.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
The schematic flow chart diagrams included herein are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the multi-level game board 100 is configured to be divided into a matrix of spaces 102. Each space includes a physical unit of progress on the multi-level game board 100 delimited by a distinct border. Each space defines a unique position on the board on which a playing piece may be located while in play. In some embodiments, each space comprises a circular, often concave, depression configured to hold a single marble playing piece. The player advances each playing piece at least one space across the multi-level game board 100 towards an innermost perimeter 104, whereby the inner most perimeter 104 is disposed to surround a single central space 106 at an uppermost level of the multi-level game board 100.
In some embodiments, the multi-level game board 100 depicts a pyramid. However, in other embodiments, the multi-level may conform to a variety of polygonal shapes. The multi-level game board 100 is configured to form a plurality of concentric perimeters, with each perimeter comprising a separate level of the pyramid. In one embodiment, the pyramid comprises six levels, with each upper level forming a smaller circumference until reaching the single space of the apex with the final playing piece. However, more or less levels may be utilized to change the parameters of the game. An innermost perimeter 104 is disposed to surround the single central space 106, which is the central space forming an uppermost level at the apex. The multi-level game board 100 also includes an outermost perimeter 108 that forms a lowermost level. The outermost perimeter 108 at least partially comprises a plurality of starting areas 110, where each player initially starts with the set of playing pieces. The outermost perimeter 108 further comprises a playing piece elimination area 112 for providing a storage to place eliminated playing pieces.
The multi-level game board 100 is further configured, in one embodiment, to create a challenging field, whereby a plurality of players utilize stratagem to be first to reach the central space at the pyramid apex. The player must further eliminate at least one opposing player by jumping over at least one opposing player playing piece, while avoiding the same fate.
In some embodiments, each set of playing pieces may include a plurality of individual playing pieces 202. The playing pieces may be configured to rest securely inside each space of the game board 100, such as circular depressions spaces that hold circular playing pieces. In this manner, the playing pieces cannot be knocked off their position on the game board 100. In one alternative embodiment, a magnet or an adhesive may be utilized to secure the plurality of playing pieces 202 in the appropriate space. Suitable materials for fabricating the plurality of playing pieces 202 may include, without limitation, glass, amber, stone, clay, porcelain, and steel. The plurality of playing pieces 202 constitutes a player's representative on the multi-level game board 100. The plurality of playing pieces 202 may be fabricated from material made to look like a known object, such as a scale model of a person, animal, or inanimate object, or otherwise general symbol. The playing pieces may include, without limitation, marbles, chips, figurines, counters, tokens, bits, movers, pawns, and a man. In one embodiment, the plurality of playing pieces 202 may include a handmade Mayan glass marble with a 1″ diameter. In some embodiments, the dimensions of the multi-level game board 100 may be coordinated with the plurality of playing pieces 202. For example, without limitation, eight sets of fifteen 1″ marbles may be utilized on a 30″ multi-level game board 100; eight sets of ten 1″ marbles may be utilized on a 28.75″ multi-level game board 100; eight sets of ten ⅝″ marbles may be utilized on a 23.5″ multi-level game board 100; and four sets of five 1″ marbles may be utilized on an 11″ multi-level game board 100.
The method also may include a step 504 of moving each playing piece at least one space across the multi-level game board 100 towards an open space in the innermost perimeter of the multi-level game board 100. Each playing piece may move in any direction. In some embodiments, the inner most perimeter 104 of the game board 100 is disposed to surround the single central space 106, which forms an apex at an uppermost level of the multi-level game board 100. Consequently, the plurality of playing pieces 202 must follow an upward, 3 dimensional trajectory to reach the final goal of the central space. However, the player must move all of the own playing pieces from the starting area prior to advancing to the center space. The player may advance towards the central space by performing a Step 506 of jumping over at least one own playing piece. The own playing piece is not eliminated in this manner. The player can also advance by performing a Step 508 of jumping over, at least one opposing player playing piece. In this manner, the player can advance over or eliminate the opposing player playing piece. Steps 506 and 508 may be interchangeable applied depending on the stratagem of the player. In some embodiments, the player may jump over a plurality of playing pieces 202 only if each playing piece has an empty space on the opposite side. For example, without limitation the player may jump over an opposing player playing piece and an own playing piece in the same move only if there exists a space between the opposing player playing piece and the own playing piece, whereby the player touches two spaces in the process. The player may not jump over both pieces if they are adjacently touching.
In a further embodiment, the method includes the step 510 of removing an eliminated playing piece from the multi-level game board 100 to a playing piece elimination area 112. The step of moving the eliminated playing pieces to the playing piece elimination area 112 may serve not only to clear the game board 100 of superfluous playing pieces, but also allows the plurality of players to take better account of the amount of own playing pieces and opposing player playing pieces available for play.
In various embodiments of the present invention, the concave depressions, or matrix of spaces 102, in which the marbles or playing pieces 202 form a “home” or safe zone under the exclusive control of the player manipulating said pieces 202 into which the pieces of other players cannot enter.
Luck may be introduced into the game and method 500 by rolling a di to see which player begins first. The marbles, or pieces, of each player may color-coordinated. Marbles which are jumped by one player are moved to a dead ring comprising a semi-annular depression partially encircling the board.
A player may jump their own marble. In some embodiments, this does not cause the loss of the marble. In other embodiments, jumping a player's own marble does cause the loss of the marble.
A player may only move, in some embodiments, its final remaining marble or piece 202 into the depression on the apex.106.
A player may win the strategy game by either reaching the apex 106 with its final marble or piece 202, or by jumping and removing all of the other players marbles or pieces 202.
In various embodiments of the present invention, players may start with less than twenty marbles or pieces 202 (in some embodiments beginning with ten) to reduce the playing time of the strategy game.
In one embodiment, the method for playing provides a step 512 of winning the strategy game by reaching the central space first with a last playing piece or eliminating all the opposing player playing pieces. However, the player is not allowed to reach the central space until only one own playing piece is available, whereby the rest of the own playing pieces must have been eliminated by the at least one opposing player. Those skilled in the art, in light of the prior teachings, will recognize that this restriction may force the player to apply a counterintuitive strategy of positioning the own playing pieces in an area of the game board 100 so as to be eliminated by the at least one opposing player, while also avoiding to eliminate the at least one opposing player playing pieces. The stratagems employed by each player may change with every new game as the number of players, playing pieces, and starting areas change.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
