Patent Application
20080042361
The present invention will be more fully understood by studying the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention is for the game of two or more players divided into the teams and racing their game pieces on the game structure. The present invention can be played either on the physical configuration version or on the electronic simulation version. The physical configuration version of the present invention is shown in
The game structure components for the present invention are shown in
The game piece for the present invention Red Game Piece 64a and Blue Game Piece 64b are shown in
The polyhedron-shaped game spaces (62a and 62b) and the game pieces (64a and 64b) include mutually cooperative means of conventional type for retaining the game pieces in place within the game spaces. For example, the game spaces may be formed of a ferromagnetic material (i.e. steel) and each game piece may incorporate a magnet material to enable the game pieces (64a and 64b) to be securely retained when placed on the surfaces of game spaces (62a and 62b). In the case of a plastic or nonferrous game space, each game space may be formed with a hole or recess for receiving a projection on the underside of each game piece.
Furthermore, it is to be understood that any other suitable method for retaining game pieces onto the outer surfaces of game space, such as by the use of ‘hook and loop fastener’ or suction cups can be substituted for the magnets or pegs snuggly fitting within holes in the game space described above. Other well known attachment or fastening means may also be employed and are considered to fall within the scope of the invention. The polyhedron-shaped game spaces (62a and 62b) are preferably constructed of magnetically permeable material to insure that the game pieces (64a and 64b) are held stationary when placed in a particular area of the game space.
Several embodiments of the game structure of the present invention are illustrated in
In a typical two players (or two teams) game is illustrated in
To play the present invention, conventional six-sided die is used as a ‘random number generator’. To begin play, each player rolls the six-sided die. The player or team with higher number starts first, and then each player must take a turn to roll the die. Each player picks game pieces to move and places them on Origin Point Game Space 70a one at a time. For their first turn, players are only allowed to move their game pieces to the edge direction on the game structure. On their turn, players roll the die and move their game pieces, game space by game space, according to the number shown on the die. For example, if the player rolls the face value of number three, the player moves his or her game piece to third game space on any edge or axis from the current position. When players reaches the first Vertex Point Game Space 70d, players can move their game pieces to any forwarding direction including moving diagonally to Center Point Game Space 70c.
If the player's game piece landed on the opponent's game piece, this is called ‘Capturing’. Any captured game pieces should be removed from the game space and restart the race from the beginning. To make the game interesting, the player rolls the face value of number six will lose his or her turn. If the player rolls the face value of number five or captures the opponent's game pieces, the player gets extra turn to play. The game piece can also move backward to capture the opponent's game piece. Two or more game pieces of the player may be on the same game space at the same time, this is called ‘Stacking’ and double, triple, quadruple ‘Stacking’ is possible. The game pieces in ‘Stacking’ mode move together as a group. But there is a great risk that all of the stacked game pieces can be captured by the opponent's one single movement. All of the captured game pieces which were in ‘Stacking’ mode should be removed from the game space and restart the race all over again from the Origin Point Game Space 70a. ‘Stacking’ can be advantage or disadvantage. There is a chance to finish the race faster than opponent, but if the player's stacked game pieces were captured by opponent, it will increase the chance of losing the game.
When players reach the Turning Point Game Space 70b, the player's game piece will receive the crown (Red Crown 66a for Red Game Piece 64a and Blue Crown 66b for Blue Game Piece 64b) as shown in
After passing the Turning Point Game Space 70b, the first player who races all of his or her game pieces to the Origin Point Game Space 70a wins the game. The players can get there two ways; easy way and difficult way. Easy way is that players can reach the Origin Point Game Space 70a regardless of having exact count on the face value of the die. Difficult way is that all the game pieces must land on Origin Point Game Space 70a by exact count. If the player's roll would take the player past Origin Point Game Space 70a, player's game piece can not be moved or should be moved forward and backward until the player gets the exact count to finish the race. However, the player can move backward to capture the opponent's piece when attacked by an opponent's game piece. This goal can be achieved depending on how to set the rules in the beginning of the game.
It is apparent that the game pieces, the game space and the game structure can be formed in a variety of configurations other than the examples shown in this present invention. It is also to be realized that a great many variations are possible to the game structure and the game rules which are presented as alternate embodiments of the invention. One possible variation of the game structure is that additional polyhedron game spaces can be added or subtracted for more complex or simpler game. Additional game pieces can be added or reduced accordingly. Another possible variation is multiple game structures for multiple players. Several game structures can be added and joined together for the additional players. Other types of polyhedron shape can be introduced to configure the shape of the present invention. Instead of using conventional six-sided die, other types of the ‘random number generator’ (i.e., eight-sided die, spinner board, random electric counting device, and cards with numbers, etc.) can be used for playing the present invention. It should be understood that many of the preferred moves of the game pieces may be altered in some fashion, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
While the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that this is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. Persons skilled in the art will readily see that a great many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
