The present invention generally relates generally to trivia board games, and more particularly relates to a political and economic trivia board game for two or more players and a method therefor.
Board games are a well known method and device for providing entertainment and, possibly, education for one or more players. Typical board games include a game board having a playing surface. A number of play spaces are disposed around the playing surface and players move their game pieces around the playing surface from one play space to another, typically in response to a roll of one or more die or a spin of a spinner. As each player lands on a play space, a task is performed in accordance with the nature of or instructions pertaining to the play space. Trivia board games are also a well known entertainment and/or education device. Typically, a player moves around the playing space of a trivia board game in accordance with how successfully the player answers various trivia questions.
In the United States of America, people work hard to meet their needs and the needs of their families, but there are some things they cannot purchase themselves. For example, the taxes paid to state and local jurisdictions help pay for police and fire protection, local recreation areas such as parks and other public facilities, and for help for those who are poor or ill. Federal income taxes help pay for defense for the country, as well as capital facilities such as highways and other transportation services. These are all services that individual citizens cannot purchase the way they can buy food, clothing and the other necessities of life. When people live together in a society, all of its citizens must bear the cost of providing such services through taxation. Taxation is the means by which society finances its public needs and costs by imposing charges on citizens and corporate entities.
The federal, state, and local tax systems in the United States have been marked by significant changes over the years in response to changing circumstances and changes in the role of government. Most Americans do not realize that there are thousands of various taxes placed every year on individuals and businesses. And the list seems to get larger and more complicated each year. Though economic and political climate is constantly changing and, in some ways, evolving, the basic economic and political building blocks are typically a matter of historic record.
Thus, what is needed is a trivia board game which utilizes board game play and political and economic trivia questions to both entertain and educate about politics and economics. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the disclosure.
According to the Detailed Description, a trivia board game is provided for two or more players. The trivia board game includes a game board, a randomizer, at least two player tokens, faux currency bills and a plurality of trivia cards. The game board has a play surface on one side with a plurality of play spaces disposed on the play surface. One of a plurality of predetermined tasks is associated with each of the plurality of play spaces. The randomizer generates a positive integer number. Each of the two or more players is assigned one of the at least two player tokens and, during each game turn, each of the at least two player tokens moves from one of the plurality of play spaces to a destination one of the plurality of play spaces in response to the randomizer. The destination one of the plurality of play spaces indicates which one of the plurality of predetermined tasks is to be performed by the one of the two or more players assigned to the one of the at least two player tokens landing on the destination one of the plurality of play spaces. The faux currency bills are of various denominations and may be utilized by each of the two or more players when performing the one of the plurality of predetermined tasks corresponding to the destination one of the plurality of play spaces. Each of the plurality of trivia cards has a trivia question associated therewith. The plurality of trivia cards comprises two or more sets of trivia cards, each of the two or more sets of trivia cards comprising trivia cards of only one of at least two types of trivia cards. Also, each of the two or more sets of trivia cards is associated with at least one predetermined one of the plurality of play spaces and each of the two or more sets of trivia cards has one of the plurality of predetermined tasks associated therewith.
In addition, a method for playing a trivia board game for two or more players is provided. The method includes a game board, a randomizer, and at least two player tokens. The game board has a play surface including a plurality of play spaces disposed on one side of the game board, each of the plurality of play spaces having one of a plurality of predetermined tasks associated therewith. The randomizer generates a positive integer number, and each of the at least two player tokens is assigned to each of the two or more players. The method includes performing a first game turn and subsequent game turns, the subsequent game turns repeated until a game completed condition has been met. The first game turn is performed by each of the two or more players activating the randomizer to generate a positive integer number, moving to one of a plurality of predetermined payment spaces of the plurality of play spaces in response to the positive integer number, and collecting faux currency bills in a predetermined amount, the predetermined amount determined in response to the one of the plurality of payment spaces. Each subsequent game turn is performed by each of the two or more players activating the randomizer to generate a positive integer number, moving to a destination one of the plurality of play spaces in response to the positive integer number, and performing one of the plurality of predetermined tasks associated with the destination one of the plurality of play spaces.
Further, a method is also provided for playing a trivia game among two or more players. The method includes selecting one of a plurality of trivia cards, each of the plurality of trivia cards having a trivia question associated therewith, and performing one of a plurality of predetermined tasks associated with the selected one of the plurality of trivia cards. The plurality of trivia cards includes two or more sets of trivia cards and each of the two or more sets of trivia cards includes trivia cards of only one of at least two types of trivia cards, each of the two or more sets of trivia cards also having one of the plurality of predetermined tasks associated therewith. The one of the plurality of predetermined tasks associated with the one of the two or more sets of trivia cards of the selected one of the plurality of trivia cards is performed in accordance with the one of the at least two types of trivia cards associated therewith, wherein performing the one of the plurality of predetermined tasks includes one or more players responding to the trivia question associated with the selected one of the plurality of trivia cards.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages in accordance with the present invention.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention.
Referring to
The trivia board game in accordance with the present embodiment is a game for two or more players and highlights the political and social tension between private citizens and public government. Each of the players is assigned a player token (i.e., an object or device used to move along the path 102) for use during the game and, during each game turn, the player token moves from a first play space, designated a game turn start play space, to second play space, designated a game turn end play space. As each of the players travel around the path 102 varying costs are incurred and varying methods of income are experienced in accordance with predetermined tasks associated with each of the plurality of play spaces forming the path 102. The plurality of play spaces forming the path 102 include pay/receive spaces, such as payment spaces and income spaces, as well as movement impact spaces.
Referring to
A financial progress of each of the players is measured during the game by the amount of faux currency bills and/or assets held by the player. Referring to
In accordance with the present embodiment, the players do not receive a fixed amount of faux currency bills at the start of each game. Instead, each player starts a game with a randomly selected initial financial condition. Accordingly, each player rolls the dice 200 to determine their initial financial condition. Depending on the initial role of the dice 200, each player will be placed on one of four game start spaces and will receive an initial amount of faux currency bills in response to the game start space. Enlargement of the game start spaces, inheritance spaces 402, 404, 406, 408, are depicted in
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While any or no special rule could apply to a roll of the dice 200 which produces “doubles” (i.e., the top face of the both dice is the same), in accordance with the present embodiment, the following rules apply: When a player rolls doubles, the player moves the designated number of play spaces, performs the predetermined task at the ending play space, and then rolls the dice 200 again to move again. If a player rolls “doubles” twice in a row, the player finishes his second movement and predetermined task, and rolls again to move again. Finally, if a player rolls “doubles” three times in a row, the player receives $200,000 from the Game Treasury, and the player's turn ends.
As described above, during each game turn, each of the players moves to one of the plurality of play spaces and performs a predetermined task associated with that game turn end space. The plurality of play spaces include a number of pay/receive spaces with associated make or receive payment tasks which, in accordance with the present embodiment, provides the players with predetermined tasks highlighting contemporary and historical methods and systems of government taxation, as well as various aspects of personal and business income generation that usually require a portion to be paid in the form of taxes. Thus, when a player whose player token lands on a pay/receive space as a game turn end space, the player receives income in a predetermined amount of faux currency bills or makes a payment in a predetermined amount of faux currency bills in accordance with the predetermined task on the game turn end space, thereby presenting a plurality of financial and situational predicaments for each of the players.
As depicted in play surface 100, the pay/receive spaces include income spaces, including two fixed amount income spaces 120 payable from a holding place for the faux currency bills and other assets termed the Game Treasury, the four inheritance spaces 402, 404, 406, 408 payable from the Game Treasury, two variable amount income spaces 122 wherein an amount payable from the Game Treasury is determined in response to a number generated by the randomizer (i.e., determined by a roll of the dice), and one income from players space 124 wherein a fixed amount of faux currency bills is received from each player.
The pay/receive spaces also include payment spaces wherein all taxes, penalties and other required payments are to be paid into a Social Welfare Fund 140 located in the center of the play surface 100. The pay/receive spaces include two fixed amount income spaces 130 payable to the Social Welfare Fund 140, two variable amount payment spaces 132 wherein an amount payable to the Social Welfare Fund 140 is determined in response to a number generated by the randomizer (i.e., determined by a roll of the dice), and one percentage of cash on hand payment space 134 wherein a fixed percentage of the amount of faux currency bills held by a player, such as fifty per cent of a player's “cash on hand”, is paid to the Social Welfare Fund 140.
The plurality of play spaces also include commodity asset spaces, profession/property spaces and profession/property purchase spaces which challenge the players to balance and/or manage their income in the form of, for example, salary, investments, business profits, and inheritance(s) against continuous outgoing payments such as federal, state and local taxes, business losses, medical expenses, and political contributions by buying, selling or holding one of a plurality of asset representative devices, such as a card or a three-dimensional article, corresponding to an asset. The asset can be a commodity such as gold or silver, where a player can purchase an asset representative device representing a gold or silver bar, for a first price and then, later in the game, sell the asset representative device for a second price. The asset could also be a profession, such as a medical or law practice, and a player can purchase an asset representative device representing the profession for a price, during the game collect predetermined service fees from players landing on a play space corresponding to the profession, and, possibly, sell the asset representative device for the price at which it was purchased. In addition, the asset could be a property, such as a resort or office building, and a player can purchase an asset representative device representing the property for a price, during the game collect predetermined rent from players landing on a play space corresponding to the property, and sell the asset representative device for the price at which it was purchased. Further, other types of assets could be employed with differing income- or loss-producing schemes and investment capital gain or loss methods to further the entertainment and educational aspects of the trivia board game.
Referring to
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A profession/property protection token 508 is depicted in
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In accordance with the present embodiment, increased diversity and challenge of play is provided by each of the four sets of trivia cards having trivia cards of different types and requiring performance of predetermined tasks differing in who asks or answers trivia questions on the trivia cards and what amount of the faux currency bills are exchanged in response to the correctness of responses to the trivia questions. Types of trivia cards may include trivia cards with true/false trivia questions, trivia cards with multiple choice trivia questions, or trivia cards with fill-in trivia questions, where fill-in trivia questions are questions that require an answerer to provide information such as omitted words. Themes of the trivia questions on the trivia cards may include political economic, taxation, historic and/or current affair themes.
In accordance with the present embodiment, each set of trivia cards includes trivia questions on political economic and taxation themes.
A third set of trivia cards includes United States legislative branch questions concerning the Capitol and the Congress. A top panel 606 (
While predetermined tasks in accordance with the present embodiment are detailed on the top panels 602, 604, 606, 608 of the four sets of trivia cards, other predetermined tasks could be spelled out. For example, instead of faux currency bills being exchanged between the ‘asking’ player and one or more players responding to the trivia question, the faux currency bills could be paid to or from a social welfare fund on the social welfare space 140 or to or from the Game Treasury. In addition, instead of the player landing on a trivia questions space 160, 162, 164, 168 asking the trivia question, such player could be required to respond to the trivia question. Also, all players could be required to respond to the trivia question.
Referring back to
Any player who lands on the WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION space 182 will collect all of the faux currency bills on the social welfare space 140 in the middle of the playing surface 100. And, finally, any player landing on the ECONOMIC RECESSION space 184 have the option to lose a turn or pay $50,000 into the social welfare fund.
Thus it can be seen that each of the plurality of play spaces on the path 102 has an associated predetermined task such as receiving an amount of faux currency bills, paying an amount of faux currency bills, acquiring an asset, returning an asset, exchanging an amount of faux currency bills for one or more assets, or exchanging one or more assets for an amount of faux currency bills. As stated above, the object of the game is for each player to maximize the player's income, such as salary, dividends and refunds, while minimizing the player's outgo, such as purchases, taxes and penalties. The game proceeds through subsequent game turns until a game completed condition has been met. The goal of the game is for a player to maintain the player's cash and/or assets longer than the other players, so the game completed condition is when all players except one have run out of cash and assets. The last player that avoids financial disaster caused by more outgo than income wins the game. In other words, the last player to run out of cash and/or assets wins the game. In an alternative embodiment of the game, the players set a playing time limit whereby the player with the highest asset value (at the time limit) wins the game as a game completed condition.
Thus it can be seen that a trivia board game and a method for playing a trivia game has which been disclosed which advantageously provides board game play and political and economic trivia questions to both entertain and educate about politics and economics. In addition, a trivia board game has been provided that is educational, entertaining, challenging, and rewarding and provides players an opportunity to learn fascinating and surprising facts about the unique political structure, governmental system, and free enterprise way of life in The United States of America. While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist, including a vast number of predetermined tasks that could be assigned to one of the plurality of play spaces and a vast number of trivia questions and trivia question categories.
It should further be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, dimensions, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements and method of play steps described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.