GB2218342A - Board games - Google Patents

Abstract

A board game comprises a board 11 marked out into a plurality of areas 16 each of which is representative of an associated topic (e.g a continent) and number (e.g. a number from 1 to 6), a plurality of sets of question cards, each set being representative of an associated topic represented by a board area 16, the cards of each set being marked to provide questions related to the topic with which that set is associated, and a random number selector (e.g one or more dice) to select the number and topic upon which a question is to be asked from a card drawn from the set associated with that topic. As shown, a plurality of sub-areas 18 indicate a task to be performed if a player throws a "6"; the particular task is selected by a colour die. The questions and tasks are taken from cards and each player holds a "scratch and reveal" record. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO GAMES This invention relates to games and in particular to games apparatus of the so-called board-game type.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided games apparatus comprising: a board marked out into a plurality of areas each of which is representative of an associated topic and number, a plurality of sets of question cards, each set being representative of an associated topic represented by a board area, the cards of each set being marked to provide questions related to the topic with which that set is associated, and a random number selector to select the number and topic upon which a question is to be asked from a card drawn from the set associated with that topic.

Preferably the number of said topics is N and the highest number selectable by the random number selector is at least N+1. In this case the board is preferably marked with one or more additional areas representative of one or more activities, and one or more additional sets of cards are provided for said activity or activities.

Advantageously, said highest number is equal to N+1 and a plurality of said activities are represented on the board by different colours, the apparatus further comprising a random colour selector to select, by colour, the particular activity to be performed by a player.

Preferably the board is a polygon having at least N+1 side edges, where N+1 is the highest number selectable by said random number selector, each said side edge lying alongside an associated container, N of said containers being each for a respective one of the sets of cards. Advantageously, the board and the containers are housed in an outer box of like polygonal form, said box providing a container for the apparatus and permitting playing of the game without requiring removal from the box of the aforesaid constituents of the game. Preferably said containers are integral with the box and/or with the board.

Advantageously the apparatus also comprises a plurality of progress records listing, by name, the said topics and identifying each by its associated number. Preferably said progress records are cards bearing an opaque scratchremovable layer over each letter of said topic names.

By way of non-limiting example, one embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the acompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a hexagonal box housing games apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of a board of the apparatus of Fig 1, Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a progress record of the games apparatus of the illustrated embodiment.

The illustrated games apparatus 10 comprises a box 15 housing a hexagonal-shaped board 11, each side edge lying alongside an associated container 12. Five sets of question cards are provided, one set in each of five of the six containers 12, all the cards of one set providing questions (and answers) relating to an associated one of five topics.

The five topics of this embodiment are the five continents, viz. the Americas, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. These topic names are marked (not shown) on five of the outer side walls of the box 15 such that each indicates the topic dealt with by the set of question cards in the container 12 adjoining the respective outer side wall.

The hexagonal-shaped board 11 is marked out to provide a central circular area 14 surrounded by two concentric annular areas 16,18. The central area 14 is numbered "6" by an appropriate representation of the "6-dot" face of a numbered die. The two concentric annular areas 16,18 are each sub-divided, in staggered relation as shown, into five sub-areas.

The five sub-areas of annular region 16 are individually marked with the names of the five continents, viz. Americas, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and Asia, and in addition to these topic names, are also marked with the respective topic number 1 to 5, such numbering being by means of representations of the "dot" faces of a numbered die.

The five sub-areas of annular region 18 are individually marked with the names of five activities or tasks (viz.

Escape, Spelling, True or False, Challenge, and Describe), and are all differently coloured.

The apparatus also comprises a random number selector, in the form of a conventional six-faced, cubic, number die (with spots or dots representing the numbers 1 to 6), and a random colour selector, in the form of a six-faced colour die (with five faces of different colours and a sixth face a duplicate of one of the five colours). The number die is used to select the number and topic upon which a question is to be asked from a card drawn from the set associated with that topic. The colour die is used to select, by colour, the particular task or activity to be performed by a player.

The apparatus also comprises a plurality of progress records 13 (Fig 3) listing, by name, the said five topics and identifying each by its associated number. These progress records 13 are constituted by cards (hereafter called "scratch & reveal cards") bearing an opaque scratchremovable layer over each letter of said topic names. The scratch and reveal cards 13 are also marked with twenty-five "bonus stars", each similarly covered by an opaque layer of scratch-removable material, The game may be played in accord with the following rules of play.

Each player is issued with a "Scratch & Reveal" card 13 before the game commences. The first player starts by throwing the numbered die to decide which continent he is to be be questioned on. If for example he rolls a "1", he will be asked a question on the Americas. If he gives an incorrect answer he will gain nothing, and the next player in turn will be allowed to throw the numbered die. If he answers correctly, he may scratch off his card 13 the opaque layer covering the first letter from the named continent (in this example, the "A" of Americas). Following this, the same player throws the numbered die again. Play continues in this fashion until a player has revealed all the letters of any one continent, that player being the winner.

Whenever a player throws a "6" he becomes "trapped" and must enter the task (or activity) section of the board. The player throws the coloured die to discover (by identity between the colour revealed and the colour of the sub-area of region 18) which individual task he has to perform. If a task is successfully performed, the player can continue play within the continent section, i.e. throwing the numbered die in order to receive a topic question. If the task is not successfully performed, play returns to the continent section but the next player in turn is given the numbered die to throw in order to receive a topic question.

The specific tasks are as follows= Spelling: One of the opposition takes a "spelling card" and reads out a word for the player to spell.

Only if the word is spelled correctly first time, does the player gain a "Bonus Star".

True or False: One of the opposition takes a "Solar System" card which is marked with a statement concerning the solar system and which must simply be answered true or false by the player. The player gains a bonus star if he gives a correct answer.

Challenge: The pieces of a mechanical or jigsaw puzzle are placed face down on the table in separated condition. A timer is started (e.g.

a falling sand egg-timer) and the player must complete the puzzle with the pieces face upwards. The player gains a bonus star only if this task is successfully done within the time limit.

Describe: The player takes a "describe card", starts the timer and, without using words or objects to help, describes what is stated on the "describe card". The opposition must guess what is being described within the time limit given. The person who guesses correctly within the time limit earns both himself and the player a bonus star.

Escape: The player escapes performing any of the other tasks and may continue with his play on the continent section.

After every fifth bonus star has been revealed (by scratching off the opaque layer thereon), the player can reveal one extra letter from any topic name on his card 13.

The spelling cards, solar system cards and the describe cards can be held in three separate compartments of the sixth container 12.

The outer box 15 is preferably of hexagonal form, said box providing a housing for the apparatus and permitting playing of the game without the need to remove from the box the board or the sets of cards (except for the card from which a question is to be asked). Preferably said containers are integral with the box and/or with the board. If the containers 12 are all rectangular in plan view, then "kiteshaped" spaces will be defined by the adjacent end walls of neigbouring containers 12 and the adjacent wall portions of the outer box 15. These spaces may contain one or more of the timer, the puzzle, the dice, a dice cup, and scratching tools for the "scratch & reveal" cards 13. The cards 13 themselves may be housed in the box by simply resting them on top of the board 11. Optionally the board 11 is mounted slightly below the upper edges of the containers' inner walls so that the latter provide a shield to prevent the thrown dice leaving the board surface.

It will appreciated that other forms of games apparatus may be provided according to the the present invention, and that such apparatus need not be restricted to the geographical topics mentioned nor to the specific examples of the tasks or activities recited. Furthermore, a player's progress can be recorded by means other than the "scratch & reveal" cards 13, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. Games apparatus comprising: a board marked out into a plurality of areas each of which is representative of an associated topic and number, a plurality of sets of question cards, each set being representative of an associated topic represented by a board area, the cards of each set being marked to provide questions related to the topic with which that set is associated, and a random number selector to select the number and topic upon which a question is to be asked from a card drawn from the set associated with that topic.

2. Games apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the number of said topics is N and the highest number selectable by the random number selector is at least N+1.

3. Games apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the board is marked with one or more additional areas representative of one or more activities, and one or more additional sets of cards are provided for said activity or activities.

4. Games apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein said highest number is equal to N+1 and a plurality of said activities are represented on the board by different colours, the apparatus further comprising a random colour selector to select, by colour, the particular activity to be performed by a player.

5. Games apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the board is a polygon having at least N+1 side edges, where N+1 is the highest number selectable by said random number selector, each said side edge guying alongside an associated container, N of said containers being each for a respective one of the sets of cards.

6. Games apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the board and the containers are housed in an outer box of like polygonal form, said box providing a container for the apparatus and permitting playing of the game without requiring removal from the box of the aforesaid constituents of the game.

7. Games apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said containers are integral with the box and/or with the board.

8. Games apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the apparatus also comprises a plurality of progress records listing, by name, the said topics and identifying each by its associated number.

9. Games apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein said progress records are cards bearing an opaque scratchremovable layer over each letter of said topic names.

10. Games apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.