Patent Application
20120181748
This invention relates generally to the field of games and in particular to a racing table game.
There are many types of races that humans either participate in directly or orchestrate for their own enjoyment. For example, automobile races and horse races both include a human driver/jockey participating directly in the race while greyhound races have no direct human participant. In either case, the races are about speed and entertainment and are enjoyed by a large and diverse fan base. The fans are those people who are watching, cheering, or otherwise involved in the race but aren't directly participating themselves. Fans often wager on the outcome of a racing event and seek to become more involved with their favorite racing genre through the playing of video games, board games and/or table games that seek to simulate a racing event.
There are a plethora of racing games, for examples, see: U.S. Pat. No. 3,241,279; U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,017; U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,267; U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,078; U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,699; U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,609; U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,673; U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,223; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,108; the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
However, many such games are either overly complicated, or they do not adequately mirror the excitement and speed of the underlying racing event on which they are based. Specifically, no existing game has the combination of speed, excitement, chips, and player involvement inherent in the present invention.
Embodiments of the present invention described and claimed herein address the limitations of existing racing games by providing embodiments of a method and device for a racing table game.
In one embodiment, various game components are utilized with a method for playing a racing table game, comprising: a table gaming surface having a plurality of lanes, a start line, and a finish line; a plurality of racers; at least two dice; and a plurality of race tickets. Another embodiment additionally comprises a plurality of chips. As used herein, the words chip or chips encompass anything that is used to represent ‘value’ and that is placed (either figuratively or actually) in the pot or purse as the race proceeds. Examples of chips include poker chips, coins, beans, buttons, etc. In one embodiment of a method of play, the game begins when one of the players is designated as “the dealer” and he or she shuffles the race tickets and distributes them to the players. The first player to the dealer's left then rolls at least two dice and either pays chip(s) into the purse (or “pot”) or moves one of the plurality of racers, depending on the results of the dice roll. The next player to the left then rolls the dice and completes the indicated action, play continuing around the circle of players in a clockwise fashion until one of the plurality of racers reaches the finish position. That race is then declared over and for each race ticket depicting the winning racer that is held by a player, that player receives an equal whole-chip share of the purse. Any remaining chips are left in the purse and become part of the purse for the next race, if any. The role of the dealer is transferred to the player on the current dealer's left and the next race can commence. Other embodiments are contemplated and specifics thereof are explained in the Detailed Description section below.
The present invention provides many benefits over the prior art. Because the game has relatively few rules, the excitement and speed inherent in racing events is captured therein. Furthermore, the players do not have to be overly concerned with complex rules and the game is not constantly interrupted in order to check a rule or explain a step. New players can easily and quickly familiarize themselves with the game and players can come and go without detracting from the gaming experience for the remaining players. Although a preferred embodiment includes game components and a playing method that simulates a horse race event, other racing events are contemplated and can be easily simulated in one or more embodiments of the present invention.
The aforementioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptions of a preferred embodiment and other embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In one embodiment, various game components are utilized with a method for playing a racing table game. The game components can include, but are not limited to: a table gaming surface; a plurality of racers; at least two dice; a plurality of race tickets; and a plurality of chips. In another embodiment, chips are not included. A table gaming surface can have a plurality of racing lanes in which the racers move throughout the race. The gaming surface can also have a start line on which the racers are placed at the start of the race. Similarly, a finish line can be detailed on the game board as well and when a racer crosses the finish line, a given race can be over. In this embodiment, the plurality of racers can each resemble a horse with a jockey and they are shaped so as to approximately fit within a lane on the table game board.
As the game progresses, the various racers are moved along the gaming surface by the players. At the start of a given race, one of the players is designated as the dealer and he or she shuffles the race tickets and distributes them to all the players, including himself or herself. The players take turns rolling the dice. Rolls of the dice dictate which racer is moved as well as how far that racer is moved. Further, the dice also indicate how many chips (or what value chips) a given player has to pay into the purse on a given turn.
In one embodiment, a player either moves a racer or pays into the purse on a given turn. In another embodiment a player can do both actions, in yet another embodiment, a player can take neither action. A given race is over when a racer crosses the finish line. The purse is then divided in equal whole-chip shares, with one share given per race ticket that matches the winning racer. Any remaining chips are left in the purse and become part of the purse for the next race, if any. In one embodiment, eleven racers are used and there are four race tickets that match each of the eleven racers. In another embodiment, there are eight race tickets that match each of the eleven racers. In other embodiments, varying numbers of racers and race tickets can be used. After a given race has ended, the role of the dealer is transferred to the player on the dealer's left and the next race can commence.
In a preferred embodiment, the table game board 100 has a surface that attracts magnets. In one example, the table game board 100 can utilize outdoor-quality, long-lasting vinyl stickers on a metal plate. In other embodiments, paints or other colorings are added to the surface instead of, or in addition to, the vinyl stickers. In yet other embodiments, other types of materials are used. It is contemplated that the table game board 100 can be constructed as a unitary, non-folding game board 100. Alternatively, the game board 100 could be constructed so as to unfold one or more times. In either case, the game board 100 should lock into a relatively rigid, stable state for game play.
As depicted in the embodiment of
Although the lanes 101-111 appear to be of differing lengths, they each have the same number of race positions 112. The race positions 112 represent locations upon which racers (not shown in
The starting positions 133 are found in a row just behind the start line 150. The start line 150 can be an actual line on the table game board 100 or it can be defined as being just in front of the starting positions 133. Before each race begins, the racers should be placed in the starting position 133 that matches each racer's number (or other unique identifying indicia, color, shape, etc.). In the embodiment of
The table game board 100 in the embodiment illustrated in
Each racer has an identifying indicia, color, shape, etc. that allows it to be uniquely identified by the players. Each lane 101-111 has a corresponding indicia, color, shape, etc. that allows each racer to be matched with its lane 101-111. Once each racer is correctly positioned on its starting position 133, game play can commence. In another embodiment, one or more racers can be placed in various race positions 112 rather than on a start position 133 before a race begins. This can be done as a means of handicapping a given race.
Game play commences according to embodiments of a method of playing the game as described in detail under
Also shown in
The components 370 also include at least two dice. The first and second depictions of die 382 and 383 shown in
The second die depiction 383 is shown with all of its faces laying flat so that it is clear that each face is generally a pentagon in shape and if each side of each pentagon is attached to its neighbor, a three-dimensional dodecahedron results. The second die depiction 383 has faces numbered one through eleven, each corresponding to a lane 101-111 and a racer 371-381. The twelfth face has a depiction of two horseshoes which represents a “wild-card” roll and allows the player who rolls the horseshoes to choose which racer 371-381 he or she wants to move. In other embodiments, the double horseshoes can be replaced by any other picture, symbol, etc.
A third die depiction 384 shows a standard, six-sided die with a front face labeled “1”. A fourth die depiction 385 is shown with all of its faces laying flat so it is clear that each face is generally square in shape and if each side of each square is attached to its neighbor, a three-dimensional cube results. The third and fourth depictions 384 and 385 can be compared to the first and second depictions 382 and 383 in order to better understand the shape and function of a twelve-sided die.
In one embodiment, two twelve-sided dice are used. As discussed above, a first die is numbered one through eleven on its first eleven faces and has a representation of two horseshoes on its twelfth face. A second twelve-sided die is employed, this one has three faces each with a “1” on them, two faces each with a “2” on them, a single face having a “3” on it, three faces each having two “chips” on them (see
The race ticket 387 shown in
Before a given race is started, the game board needs to be set up. The setting up step 421 involves arranging the racers on the game board (e.g., placing racer one on starting position one, racer two on starting position two, etc.), determining who will be playing the game (i.e., the players), determining which of the players will be the dealer, and deciding how many of the race tickets to use. In one exemplary game embodiment, eleven players wish to play and eleven racers are to be used. Thus, the setting up step 421 involves placing each of the eleven racers, numbered one through eleven, on their corresponding starting position. Further, one of the eleven players is chosen as the dealer and he or she decides to employ forty-four of the race tickets. In one embodiment, the game rules dictate the number of race tickets to use based on the number of players; in another embodiment, the dealer can make this choice.
The shuffling and dealing race tickets step 422 involves the dealer gathering the selected number of race tickets (in the example above, forty-four), randomizing them (usually done by shuffling them face down so no one can see the identifying indicia on the race tickets), and distributing them out to the players (again performed face down). Dealing should begin with the person to the dealer's left, should continue to the next player to the left and so on, should continue around to each person sequentially in order, and should give only one race ticket per person each time around. Continuing the example above, each of the eleven players (including the dealer) receives four of the race tickets. If there were fewer than eleven players and forty-four race tickets were used, some players may end up with more race tickets than others—this is acceptable. In one embodiment, if the number of players is eleven or fewer, forty-four race tickets can be used; if the number of players is twelve or more, eighty-eight or more race tickets are used.
In the determining active player step 423, the first player clockwise from the dealer (i.e., to the dealer's left) is initially selected as the active player. In later rounds, the determining active player step 423 involves simply choosing the player to the left (i.e., clockwise) of the previously active player.
In the rolling dice step 424, the active player rolls the dice. In one embodiment, two twelve-sided dice are used. The roll results in the first die showing a single upwards face having a “1”, a “2”, a “3”, a single chip, or a double chip displayed. The roll also results in the second die showing either a number one through eleven or a double horseshoes. As discussed in detail above, other numbers, chips, symbols, etc. can be used in other embodiments. Furthermore, the dice are not limited to dodecahedrons, other dice can be used.
In the placing chips step 425, if the first die resulted in a single chip being displayed then the active player would place a single chip in the purse or pot. If the first die resulted in a double chip, the active player would place two chips in the purse (or a chip having double the value of a single chip). If neither a single nor a double chip resulted from the first die, then the placing chips step involves the active player placing zero chips in the purse.
In the moving racer step 426, if the first die resulted in a single or double chip being displayed then no action is taken in this step. However, if the first die resulted in a “1”, a “2”, or a “3” being displayed, then the second die needs to be consulted. If the second die has a number from one to eleven then the active player moves the corresponding racer (numbered one to eleven) forward the number of positions displayed by the first die (i.e., “1”, “2”, or “3” positions). If instead, the second die displays the double horseshoes, then the active player can choose which racer he or she would like to advance the number of positions displayed in the first die. In one embodiment, if the double horseshoes is displayed, the active player can only choose to move a racer forward the exact number of positions dictated by the first die. For example, if a given racer is only two positions from the finish position and the first die displays a “3”, then the active player can not choose to move that racer and must instead select another racer to advance. In another embodiment, a player can select any racer, even one which would result in moving ‘past’ the finish position. Similarly, in one embodiment, if the second die indicates a specific racer (one through eleven) and the first indicates a number of positions that must be moved that is greater than the number of positions remaining, the racer is advanced regardless; in another embodiment, the racer is not advanced.
In the determining winner step 427, the dealer examines the position of each racer. If no racer has passed the finish line then the dealer determines that the race continues. If a single racer has passed the finish line, the dealer declares that racer the winner. In another embodiment, the race continues until the dealer determines the Second Place racer, the Third Place racer, etc. In yet another embodiment, a given race can have more than one “lap” such that the race is not over until a racer crosses the finish line twice, thrice, etc. A variation of this embodiment can have one or more Places as well, such as Second Place, Third Place, etc. If the dealer determines that the race continues, then the determining active player step 423 is initiated and the race continues through steps 424, 425, 426 and 427 until a determining winner step 427 occurs wherein the dealer determines a winner (or Second Place, Third Place, etc. as required by the embodiment being played).
In the determining shares step 428, each player shows each of his or her race tickets that depict the winning racer, these are counted up and a total number of winning tickets (a ticket total) is found. Then the total number of chips in the purse (or pot) is added up to get a purse total and the purse total is divided by the ticket total, the resulting number is called the purse share. If the chips divide evenly and the purse share is a whole number, then the resulting number is declared the share amount. If the chips do not divide evenly and the purse share is not a whole number, then the purse share is rounded down to the next whole number and that number is declared the share amount. For example, suppose racer three is determined as the winner and there are four race tickets being held by the players that depict racer three. The total number of chips in the purse is two hundred and three. Dividing that total by the number of winning race tickets (203 divided by 4) results in fifty and three-quarters as the purse share. Since that is not a whole number, the purse share is rounded down and the declared share amount is fifty.
In other embodiments, additional Places also receive a portion of the purse. For example, those players holding race tickets depicting the Second Place racer could receive one third of the total purse and two thirds would go to those players holding race tickets depicting the winning racer. Once again only whole number chips would be split, any remainder would be left in the purse for the next race. Determination of the shares would then be handled as above. This scenario could of course be expanded to pay Third Place, Fourth Place, etc. with the split percentages being between and including zero and one hundred percent.
In the distributing shares step 429, each player receives a share amount of the chips from the pot for each winning race ticket he or she holds. Any chips that remain in the purse after all of the share amounts have been distributed are left in the purse and become part of the purse for the next race, if any. Continuing the above example, player five holds one race ticket depicting the winning racer, racer three. Player seven holds two race tickets depicting racer three and player eight holds one race ticket depicting racer three. In the distributing shares step 429, player five would receive one share amount or fifty chips, player seven would receive two share amounts or one hundred chips, and player eight would receive one share amount of fifty chips. The remaining three chips would be left in the purse for the next race.
In the ending race step 430, the dealer declares that all the shares have been paid, the purse is set for the next race and the current race has officially completed.
As mentioned above, in one embodiment, a racing table game could simulate horse racing; in another embodiment, a greyhound race is simulated; in yet another embodiment, an automobile race is simulated. In a greyhound race, the double horseshoes could be a double bone, dog paw print, etc.; and the racers could look like greyhounds. In an automobile race, the double horseshoes could be two tires, a set of car-racing finish flags, etc.; and the racers could look like automobiles. The present invention can similarly simulate other racing events.
The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the described articles of manufacture and methods. Many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
