Methods And Apparatus For A Board Game Utilizing An Expandable Board

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to board games and game apparatus, and more particularly related to methods and apparatus for a board game utilizing an expandable board. While the present invention may be advantageously used in a wide variety of gaming contexts, a preferred embodiment of the present invention uses the concept of an expandable game board to offer a board game wherein the board represents an overview of a historical Japanese castle, there are four separate areas of the castle that are represented by four board quadrants, and wherein the board game is playable with a single board quadrant, with two board quadrants, with three board quadrants, or with all four board quadrants. When two or more board quadrants are utilized, the board quadrants operate in coordination to provide an expanded playing board wherein a player may control game pieces on a plurality of board quadrants and/or may move game pieces between board quadrants. Thus, movement of game characters and/or objects through the various buildings, structures, and grounds of a historical castle may be represented in a table-top board game, and the buildings, structures, and grounds may be expanded through the addition of one or more additional board quadrants.

The present invention is not limited to the context of historical Japanese castles; the present invention may be advantageously utilized to represent any defensible space, such as a fantastical space station or a hilltop overlooking a river valley, for example, and provide expandable game play space through the use of a plurality of overview areas that may be added or subtracted at the users' discretion.

A preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed apparatus for a board game utilizing an expandable board includes a set of one or more game pieces, a set of one or more game cards, a set of one or more randomizing devices, and an expandable game board having at least a first game board section and a second game board section, wherein the game apparatus is playable using only the first game section and wherein the second game board section is associated with the first game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section and the second game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section and the second game board section. Alternative embodiments may include a third game board section and/or a fourth game board section, each additionally associated with the first game board section and the second game board section in the same way so that game play may develop throughout all combined sections.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Board games utilizing a table-top playing board (or gaming board) are well known and include many variations of board games having a board that is divisible into quadrants. For example, many games involve a board that folds into fourths so as to fit into the box in which the game was shipped. Also commonly, board games may ship with several separate sections that must be put together either before game play begins or during gameplay as part of the operation of the game.

While game boards available today may be updated and game piece sets may be expanded, the currently available games themselves remains the same and therefore there is a tendency for a single board game to become dull after a number of plays. It would be advantageous, therefore, to provide a board game wherein there are expansive board sections, which may be released over the course of a long term period of time (such as a calendar year), to add playability to the board game and to build anticipation and marketing momentum with a series of board quadrant releases. The herein disclosed methods and apparatus provide a highly entertaining board game that can represent a historical defensible space and may be regularly updated to expand the playing space and command market attention through regularly scheduled game board expansion releases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A is an artistic representation of a famous and historical defensible space, Himeji Castle in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan; a preferred embodiment of the present invention may represent a defensible space, such as Himeji Castle, so that game players may pay on an expandable game board representing the various defensible spaces of Himeji Castle;

FIG. 1B illustrates an overview of a historical defensible space showing the herein disclosed board game apparatus having a game board including first game board section, a second game board section, a third game board section, and a fourth game board section, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A illustrates a game apparatus including a first section of a game board, a set of one or more game cards, a set of one or more randomizing devices, and a set of one or more game pieces, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B illustrates a game apparatus including a first section of a game board, a second section of a game board, a set of one or more game cards, a set of one or more randomizing devices, and a set of one or more game pieces, in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2C illustrates a game apparatus including a first section of a game board, a second section of a game board, a third section of a game board, a set of one or more game cards, a set of one or more randomizing devices, and a set of one or more game pieces, in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2D illustrates a game apparatus including a first section of a game board, a second section of a game board, a third section of a game board, a fourth section of a game board, a set of one or more game cards, a set of one or more randomizing devices, and a set of one or more game pieces, in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an overview of a game board section, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates an overview of a method for providing a board game having an expandable board, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4B illustrates an overview of a method for playing a board game having an expandable board, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a game apparatus having a set of one or more game pieces, a set of one or more game cards, a set of one or more randomizing devices (such as dice having various number of faces or sides), and an expandable game board having one or more game board sections.

Throughout this specification, a historical Japanese castle will generally be used to illustrate the present invention and various embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood, however, that the herein disclosed expandable game board and various associated components may be used to represent any defensible space (present-day, historical, or imagined) and is not intended to be limited to historical Japanese castles or even castles generally. The game board, and expandable game board sections that may be provided at a later date, may represent any defensible space, meaning any space that is capable of being defended by a set of characters, pieces or objects from attack by a separate set of characters, pieces, or objects that is intent on invading the defensible space. For example, the defensible space may be a historical fort from the American West, a present-day office tower in Manhattan, a canyon on the Moon, a floating mansion in a fantastical world, or any other conceivable space.

Also throughout this specification, reference will be made to quadrants (or sections) and the various sections of the game board may be referred to as quadrants (or as a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and/or a fourth quadrant). The term quadrant is used because a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes exactly four game board sections representing exactly four sections of a defensible space, but the term is not meant to be limiting and the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to a situation wherein the game board has exactly four sections. The present invention includes situations in which the game board may have any number of sections; for example, the game board may include exactly two sections, exactly 5 sections, or exactly 25 sections. Furthermore, the sections may represent sections of land and/or sections of structure and may represent locations that are either directly next to each other or located near each other but with some distance between the sections; in other words, the game board sections may represent sections that may or may be directly adjacent.

Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, illustrations of the historic Himeji Castle are presented so that the viewer may understand what is intended to be represented by the game board 110. FIG. 1A is an artist's representation of castle 101 and FIG. 1B is a bird's eye view of castle 101 showing game board 110 made up of first game board section 114, second game board section 113, third game board section 112, and fourth game board section 111. As can be seen in FIG. 1B, the various sections of game board 110 may represent portions of castle 101 that are directly adjacent, such as third game board section 112 and fourth game board section 111, or that are physically separated by some distance, such as first game board section 114 and second game board section 113. As can also be seen in FIG. 1B, the various sections of game board 110 may have differing orientations—first game board section 114 is in a landscape orientation, second game board section 113 is oriented at an angle, and third and fourth game board sections 112 and 111 have a portrait orientation.

As will be apparent, game board 110 may include any number of game board sections; the four game board sections provided in the various figures are provided as a preferred embodiment and are not meant to limit the disclosure to only situations with game board 110 divided into quadrants. Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention is intended to represent a historic Japanese castle, game board 110 may represent any defensible space and is not limited to castles or historical structures.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B-2C, and 2D, various embodiments of the herein disclosed apparatus for a board game utilizing an expandable board are shown to illustrate that the board game may be played using any number of the available game board sections. FIG. 2A shows game apparatus 201 including set of one or more game cards 220, set of one or more game pieces 230, set of one or more randomizing devices 240, and first game board section 114. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2A is fully playable and enjoyable by two or more players without any requirement to associate first game board section 114 with any of the other game board sections.

Set of one or more game cards 220 may include any type of cards that are capable of presenting information to the players to partially or fully determine actions for the one or more game pieces included in set of one or more game pieces 230. For example, set of one or more game cards 220 may include one or more defense cards, one or more weapon cards, and one or more action cards. Set of one or more game pieces 230 may include any type of indicator, character, figurine, or talisman that can occupy, or point to, a space on game board 110 (or first game board section 114 of game board 110). For example, a game piece of set of one or more game pieces 230 may be formed of injection molded plastic and molded to be semi-realistic. In one embodiment of the game apparatus, set of one or more game pieces 230 may include a set of defensive Samurai pieces to defend the castle represented by game board 110 and a set of attacking Ninja pieces to invade the castle represented by game board 110.

Set of one or more randomizing devices 240 may include one or more randomizing devices such as a die, a numbered spinning top, a numbered board with a spinning wheel, a random number generator, or any other device that is capable of determining an outcome randomly. In a preferred embodiment, set of one or more randomizing devices includes dice have a varying number of faces or sides. For example, set of randomizing devices 240 may include a first die having 4 sides, a second die having 6 sides, a third die having 8 sides, a fourth die having 10 sides, a fifth die having 12 sides, and a sixth die having 20 sides.

FIG. 2B shows an alternative embodiment wherein game apparatus 202 includes set of one or more game cards 220, set of one or more game pieces 230, set of one or more randomizing devices 240, first game board section 114, and second game board section 113. Second game board section 113 is associated with first game board section 114 so that one or more game pieces 230 may be distributed between first game board section 114 and second game board section 113 and so that one or more game cards 220 and one or more randomizing devices 240 determine events to occur on first game board section 114 and second game board section 113. In other words, game apparatus 202 is playable using both first game board section 114 and second game board section 113.

FIG. 2C shows an alternative embodiment wherein game apparatus 203 includes set of one or more game cards 220, set of one or more game pieces 230, set of one or more randomizing devices 240, first game board section 114, second game board section 113, and third game board section 112. Third game board section 112 is associated with second game board section 113 and with first game board section 114 so that one or more game pieces 230 may be distributed between first game board section 114, second game board section 113, and third game board section 112 and so that one or more game cards 220 and one or more randomizing devices 240 determine events to occur on first game board section 114, second game board section 113, and third game board section 112. In other words, game apparatus 203 is playable using first game board section 114, second game board section 113, and third game board section 112.

FIG. 2D shows an alternative embodiment wherein game apparatus 204 includes set of one or more game cards 220, set of one or more game pieces 230, set of one or more randomizing devices 240, first game board section 114, second game board section 113, third game board section 112, and fourth game board section 111. Fourth game board section 111 is associated with third game board section 112, with second game board section 113, and with first game board section 114 so that one or more game pieces 230 may be distributed between first game board section 114, second game board section 113, third game board section 112, and fourth game board section 111 and so that one or more game cards 220 and one or more randomizing devices 240 determine events to occur on first game board section 114, second game board section 113, third game board section 112, and fourth game board section 111. In other words, game apparatus 204 is playable using first game board section 114, second game board section 113, third game board section 112, and fourth game board section 111.

It should be noted that the present invention may be played using any one or more of the game board sections. For example, the game apparatus may be successfully and satisfactorily played utilizing only the third game board section, or only the second and fourth game board sections. It may be, however, that in certain embodiments wherein the game board is representing certain defensible spaces having certain configurations, that the board game is playable using only select iterations of game board combinations. For example, depending on the configuration of the defensible space and thereby the configuration of the game board sections, a board game may only be playing using: the first game board section in isolation, the first game board section in combination with the second game board section, the first game board section in combination with the second game board section and the third game board section, and the first game board section in combination with the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section. In this example, the configuration may determine that the first game board section may not be playable in combination with only the third game board section or with only the fourth game board section because the first game board section and the third (or fourth) game board section may not represent defensible spaces that are close in proximity or that allow for direct accessibility.

A set of association indicators are also illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D. An association indicator, which may be referred to as an association indicator formed of a plurality of portions of the association indicator or, alternatively, as a set of association indicators including a plurality of association indicators, may be utilized to indicate to a user or player the intended arrangement of the various sections of the game board so that the game board may be oriented correctly. FIG. 2A shows game apparatus 201 having a game board with only first game board section 214. First game board section 214 may include first portion of the association indicator 214 so that a player or user can anticipate how first game board section 114 is oriented in regard to the planned game board expansion. FIG. 2B shows game apparatus 202 having first game board section 114 in association with second game board section 113. As can be seen in FIG. 2B, second game board section 113 may include second portion of the association indicator 213 so that a player or user understands how second game board section 113 is intended to be oriented in regard to first game boards section 114 and in regard to the planned game board expansion. As is further illustrated in FIG. 2C and FIG. 2D, third game board section 112 may include third portion of the association indicator 212 and fourth game board section 111 may include fourth portion of the association indicator 211.

Referring to FIG. 2D, when all game board sections are associated in the intended orientation relative to each other as indicated by the association indicator having first portion of the association indicator 214, second portion of the association indicator 213, third portion of the association indicator 212, and fourth portion of the association indicator 211, the various portion of the association indicator form a complete association indicator image or logo. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated by the figures, the complete association indicator is a line drawing of a full circle formed of a separate quarter circle formed on each of the game board sections. Other examples of association indicators include a more intricate design such as a flower, a geometric design, arrows, or any other mark or watermark that may be divisible onto each of the game board sections.

Referring to FIG. 3, a detailed view of first game board section 114 is provided to illustrate an example of a single game board section populated with movement spaces 310, natural obstacles 340, castle walls 330, and exterior doorways 320. During gameplay, players may utilize set of game cards 220 and set of randomizing devices 240 to navigate set of game pieces 230 through movement spaces 310 avoiding castle walls 330 and natural obstacles 340. When first game board 114 is associated with additional game board sections, players are able to navigate their game pieces throughout the entirety of the expanded game board 110.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, exemplary methods are shown for utilizing the herein disclosed game apparatus. In FIG. 4A, method 400 is shown for providing a board game having an expandable board. Method 400 includes step 401 releasing a game apparatus on a launch date wherein the game apparatus includes a set of one or more game pieces, a set of one or more game cards, a set of one or more randomizing devices, and a first game board section wherein the board game is playable using only the first game board section. Method 400 then includes step 402 publicizing that there will be a second game board section released at a predetermined expansion date, wherein the predetermined expansion date is subsequent in time to the launch date. Method 400 may conclude with step 403, releasing a second game board section on the predetermined expansion date, wherein the second game board section is associated with the first game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section and the second game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section and the second game board section.

For method 400, if it is intended that the complete game board 110 will include additional game board sections, then steps 402 and 403 may be repeated with a third (or subsequent) game board section substituted for the second game board section so that the third game board section may be made available for play in association with the first game board section and the second game board section. In this way, a fourth game board section or additional game board sections may additionally be associated with game board 110.

In FIG. 4B, method 410 is shown for playing a board game having an expandable board. Method 410 includes step 411 playing the board game using only a first game board section, wherein the first game board section represents a first portion of a defensible space and one or more game pieces may be distributed on the first game board section so that one or more game cards and one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section. Method 410 then includes step 412 receiving a second game board section at a later date, wherein the second game board section represents a second portion of the defensible space. Method 410 then includes step 413 associating the second game board section with the first game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section and the second game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section and the second game board section. Method 410 may conclude with step 414 playing the board game using the first game board section in association with the second game board section.

For method 410, if it is intended that the complete game board 110 will include additional game board sections, then steps 412 and 413 may be repeated with a third (or subsequent) game board section substituted for the second game board section so that the third game board section may be made available for play in association with the first game board section and the second game board section. In this way, a fourth game board section or additional game board sections may additionally be associated with game board 110.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described herein in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, it is to be understood that the apparatus and methods described herein can have a multitude of additional uses and applications. Accordingly, the invention should not be limited to just the particular description and various drawing figures contained in this specification, that merely illustrate a preferred embodiment and application of the principles of the invention. It should be noted that terms of orientation and direction such as top, bottom, front, rear, etc. as used herein are used to distinguish elements from one another within exemplary embodiments and should therefore not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention to any specific orientation. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Therefore, the detailed description and accompanying drawings are not to be taken in a limiting sense, but rather to enable the present invention.

Claims

1. A game apparatus representing a defense of a defensible space, comprising: a set of one or more game pieces;a set of one or more game cards;a set of one or more randomizing devices; andan expandable game board representing the defensible space and having at least a first game board section and a second game board section, wherein the game apparatus is playable using only the first game board section and wherein the second game board section is associated with the first game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section and the second game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section and the second game board section.
2. The game apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the expandable game board further includes a third game board section that is associated with the first game board section and the second game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section.
3. The game apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the expandable game board further includes a fourth game board section that is associated with the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section.
4. The game apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the expandable game board includes an association indicator for indicating how the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section are intended to be oriented while in association, and wherein the first game board section includes a first portion of the association indicator, the second game board section includes a second portion of the association indicator, the third game board section includes a third portion of the association indicator, and the fourth game board section includes a fourth portion of the association indicator.
5. The game apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the defensible space is a historical defensive structure.
6. The game apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the defensible space is a historical castle.
7. The game apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the defensible space is Himeji Castle.
8. The game apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of one or more game pieces includes a set of defensive pieces to be controlled by a first player and a set of attacking pieces to be controlled by a second player.
9. The game apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of one or more game cards includes a defense card, a weapon card, and an action card.
10. The game apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of one or more randomizing devices includes a first die having 4 sides, a second die having 6 sides, a third die having 8 sides, a fourth die having 10 sides, a fifth die having 12 sides, and a sixth die having 20 sides.
11. A method for providing a board game having an expandable board, comprising the steps of: releasing a game apparatus on a launch date, wherein the game apparatus includes a set of one or more game pieces, a set of one or more game cards, a set of one or more randomizing devices, and a first game board section wherein the board game is playable using only the first game board section;publicizing that there will be a second game board section released at a predetermined expansion date, wherein the predetermined expansion date is subsequent in time to the launch date; andreleasing the second game board section on the predetermined expansion date, wherein the second game board section is associated with the first game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section and the second game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section and the second game board section.
12. The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in claim 11, further comprising the steps of: publicizing that there will be a third game board section released at a predetermined second expansion date, wherein the predetermined second expansion date is subsequent in time to the launch date and to the predetermined expansion date; andreleasing the third game board section on the predetermined second expansion date, wherein the third game board section is associated with the first game board section and the second game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section.
13. The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of: publicizing that there will be a fourth game board section released at a predetermined third expansion date, wherein the predetermined third expansion date is subsequent in time to the launch date, to the predetermined expansion date, and to the predetermined second expansion date; andreleasing the fourth game board section on the predetermined third expansion date, wherein the fourth game board section is associated with the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section.
14. The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in claim 13, wherein the game board represents a defensible space and wherein the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section each represent separate and interconnected portions of the defensible space.
15. The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in claim 14, wherein the defensible space is a historical Japanese castle having a plurality of walls, a plurality of interior spaces for game piece movement, a plurality of exterior spaces for game piece movement, and a plurality of entrance ways for game piece movement.
16. The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in claim 14, wherein the launch date in within a first season in a calendar year, the first expansion date is within a second season in the calendar year, the second expansion date is within a third season in the calendar year, and the third expansion date is within a fourth season in the calendar year.
17. The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in claim 14, wherein the launch date in within a first quarter in a calendar year, the first expansion date is within a second quarter in the calendar year, the second expansion date is within a third quarter in the calendar year, and the third expansion date is within a fourth quarter in the calendar year.
18. A method for playing a board game having an expandable board, comprising the steps of: playing the board game using only a first game board section, wherein the first game board section represents a first portion of a defensible space and one or more game pieces may be distributed on the first game board section so that one or more game cards and one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section;receiving a second game board section at a later date, wherein the second game board section represents a second portion of the defensible space;associating the second game board section with the first game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section and the second game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section and the second game board section; andplaying the board game using the first game board section in association with the second game board section.
19. The method for playing a board game having an expandable board as recited in claim 18, further comprising the steps of: receiving a third game board section at a second later date, wherein the third game board section represents a third portion of the defensible space;associating the third game board section with the first game board section and with the second game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section; andplaying the board game using the first game board section in association with the second game board section and the third game board section.
20. The method for playing a board game having an expandable board as recited in claim 19, further comprising the steps of: receiving a fourth game board section at a third later date, wherein the fourth game board section represents a fourth portion of the defensible space;associating the fourth game board section with the first game board section, with the second game board section, and with the third game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section; andplaying the board game using the first game board section in association with the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section.

Methods And Apparatus For A Board Game Utilizing An Expandable Board

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