GB2388553A

GB2388553A - A board game

Info

Publication number: GB2388553A
Application number: GB0130856A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tristram Stanley Bishop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-12-24
Filing date: 2001-12-24
Publication date: 2003-11-19
Also published as: GB0130856D0

Abstract

A board game comprises a board 12 and two sets of playing pieces 11. Each playing piece has a plurality of edges, each edge being marked, shaped or coloured to match at least one edge of another playing piece. The board may be adapted to receive the pieces and the pieces may have a specific orientation with respect to the board, shown by a dot (20, fig 1) on the board and a dot 21 on each piece: alternatively the game may be played without a board. Preferably the board may contain an array of 9 x 9 spaces. Some of the spaces on the board may be coloured to indicate zones of a higher value. The pieces are placed on the board according to the rules of the game. The game may be adapted to be played on a computer.

Description

( 1 2388553

GAME The present invention relates to a game, in particular to a board game capable of adaptation to computer-based use, including online.

In its broadest sense, the present invention provides a game played in accordance with rules and comprising a board and a set of playing pieces. The board comprises a plurality of zones adapted for receipt of a playing piece. Each playing piece has a plurality of edges, each edge of each playing piece being marked or shaped to match at least one edge 10 of another playing piece.

Preferably, the board comprises a 9x9 array of zones.

Preferably, each playing piece is square, having four edges.

Preferably, each playing piece has a specified orientation with respect to the board.

In one embodiment, each edge is marked with an indicator indicating the number one, two or zero. Suitably, the numbers one and two are represented by one or two stripes 20 respectively.

In a second embodiment, each edge is marked with one of three colours.

In a third embodiment, each indicator is represented by a male or female jigsaw-shaped 25 component.

Suitably, each playing piece is marked with a number to indicate a value of that piece when played.

30 The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

I igure 1 is a plan view of a board of an embodiment of a game in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a set of playing pieces of an embodiment of the game of the 5 present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the playing pieces of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the principle features of a first alternative design of 10 playing piece of an embodiment of a game in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating the principle features of a second alternative design of playing piece of an embodiment of a game in accordance with the present invention; and 15 Figure 6 shows a sequence of four screen displays taken during a two-player game of an embodiment of a computer-based version of the game of the present invention.

With reference to the figures, the game of the present invention is played on a board 10 with playing pieces 1 1. The board 10 is divided into a plurality of zones 12 upon which 20 each piece 11 is placed in turn. In the preferred embodiment shown, the board 10 is divided into 81 zones 12 in a 9x9 matrix. In the embodiment shown, some of the zones are coloured or shaded, 12a, 12b, 12c. During scoring of the game, pieces played on these zones score more highly as will be described.

25 In the preferred embodiment, each playing piece 11 has four edges and the upper surface is correspondingly divided into four zones 13,14,15,16. Suitably, such division is by formation of the upper surface of each playing piece 11 as a pyramid.

Each zone 13,14,15,16 is marked with an indicator corresponding to the number one, two 30 or zero. Suitably the marking is by conventional Arabic numeral or Roman numerals (as shown in Figures 2 and 3).

( The board 10 is marked. suitably. by means of a spot 20 along one edge, to indicate a specific orientation of the board during play. Correspondingly each playing piece 11 is also marked, also by means of a spot 21 to ensure that. in play, each piece is laid in a correct orientation.

s The game is played as follows.

I'wenty-one of the zones or squares 12 of the board are coloured 1 2a. 1 2b, 1 2c. These are bonus squares. There are three different values of bonus square, indicated by their colour 10 (for example: blue:2, silvery and gold:5).

The side of a playing piece or tile 11 is marked with either no stripes, one stripe or two stripes. The total number of stripes on the four sides of a tile represents its value. The value is only used when a tile is placed on a bonus square. In this case. the tile's value is 15 multiplied by the bonus value of the square to calculate the score made by that tile. The tiles 11 are typically stored in a tile bag or J'ace-down in a tray.

The game is most suitably played by two, three or four players.

20 The object of the game is to score as many points as possible. The player scoring most points by the end of the game is the winner.

1. To begin the game, each player takes one tile out of the tile-bag.

25 2. The player with the highest value tile (the first player) places that tile on the central square 12 of the board, with the dot 21 on the side of the tile facing in the direction of the dot 20 on the side of the board. 'I'he central square is a bonus square, carrying a bonus value of 3. The value of the first tile placed is therefore multiplied by 3, t'or scoring purposes.

3. The other players replace their tiles in the bag.

4. Then' beginning with the first player and continuing in a clockwise direction.

each player in turn takes seven tiles t'rom the bag. The tiles are placed on suitable player boards to hide them from other players and to enable planning, of the player's next turn.

5. 'I'he first player keeps score on the scoring pad.

6. When all players have their seven tiles, play begins with the player to the left of the scorer taking the first turn.

7. In placing a tile: a. the dot 21 on one side ofthe tile must be placed so that it faces in the direction of the dot 20 on the side of the board b. the tile must be placed touching one side of at least one tile already on 15 the board, and c. the stripes on the sides of the tile must match the stripes on the sides of the tile(s) that it touches.

8. A player must ensure that each tile played is placed in the same row or column as 20 the other tiles played.

9. All tiles played in a turn must be placed to form a continuous line, which can include tiles already on the board.

25 1(). In his/her turn, the player concerned must place at least one tile on the board, if À he/she has a valid move available. The player does not have to place more than one tile in that turn, even if' other valid moves are possible.

I I. 'I'here is, however, a bonus of 25 extra points for any player placing all his/her 30 seven tiles on the board in a single turn.

s 12. Once a tile has been placed on the board and provided the move is valid. it cannot be moved again or'taken beck' by a Player. 2 13. Play then continues in a clockwise direction.

s 14. A player replaces the number of tiles played in their turn by taking the same number of tiles, or as many as are left, from the tile- bag.

15. A Player is not allowed to exchange any of their tiles with those held by other ]0 players or with tiles in the tile-bag.

16. The end of the game is reached when no further valid plays can be made, even if there are still tiles remaining in the tile-bag.

15 17. At the end of the game, the value of tiles remaining in each player's hand is calculated, and subtracted from his/her score to reach the final totals.

Scoring A player scores I point for every tile placed and for each tile in the line(s) to which they 20 have added tiles in that turn, unless any of the tiles played in that turn was placed on a bonus square. A bonus square multiplies the value of the tile placed on it by its bonus value. This value only applies to tiles placed in the current turn. A player cannot claim the bonus values of tiles placed on bonus squares in previous turns, even if these tiles are in a row or column played into in that turn. A tile that is played so that it adds to two lines, 25 scores in both lines. If a tile is placed on a bonus square and at the same time adds to two lines, its bonus value is doubled.

The game described above is based on a number of mathematical principles which will now be explained in further detail. There are 81 playing pieces. In base 3, the numbers 0 30 to 80 are represented by flour digits. Thus the number 51 in base 10 is represented as 12,2,0 in base 3. These digits are, in turn, transferred as Roman numerals to the four zones 13, 141516 ol' the tile, starting with zone 13 carrying orientation spot 21 and

f working in the tiles illustrated. clockwise around the tile. The use of the orientation spilt 21 ensures that each tile ofthe set of Sl is unique.

It will be appreciated that this scheme can be varied considerably. for example, other 5 number bases could be used with tiles having a different number of edges.

It will be appreciated that the game can be played with just the paying pieces. They can be placed in a notional 9x9 array. That is to say, the board can be omitted or considered to be a 'virtual" board.

Furthermore, the base 3 numbers need not be presented numerically. Figure 4 illustrates an alternative design of tile in which each of the numbers 0, 1 and 2 is represented by a different colour or shade. Figure 5 illustrates a yet further alternative design in which the numbers are represented by interlocking female and male jigsaw elements. In the tile 15 illustrated, zones 13 and 14 are represented by female jigsaw elements 30, 31 and zones 15 and 16 by male elements 32, 33. Each number 0, 1. 2 is represented by mutually interlocking male and female elements, depending upon the zonal location of the number.

In this embodiment, it will be appreciated that the orientation spot 21 can be omitted as the jigsaw-piece nature of the playing piece acts as its own orientation means.

In an alternative scoring system, the score of each tile is the sum of the indicators on all the edges. I In the case of non-numerical representations, to aid scoring preferably each tile is marked 25 with its scoring; value, as is shown in Figure S. To make the game easier, the orientation spot may be omitted or disregarded and a plurality of identical tiles may be provided. However, it is felt that to make these modifications reduces the gameplay considerably and is not preferred.

The game of the present invention is equally suitable for playing on a computer, suitably online. as it is as a more conventional hoard gatlle. A computcrised version of the game

( can be programmed easily by anyone skilled in the art of computer programming. both to follow the rules of the game as set out above. and to automatically score games. An example of four stages of a two-player game with automatic playing piece selection and scoring is shown in Figure 6. Figure 6a shows the screen layout with the first piece having 5 been laid. Figures 6b and 6c show the screen after several rounds and Figure 6d shows the screen at the conclusion of a game when one of the players cannot place any of their

. playing pieces.

Claims

1. A game played in accordance with rules and played in a plurality of zones and comprising a board and a set of playing pieces. each piece has a plurality of edges, each edge of each playing piece being marked or shaped to match at least one edge of another playing piece.

2. A game, as claimed in any preceding claim which is played on a board comprising a 9x9 array of zones

3. A game as claimed in claim 1 where each playing piece is square, having four edges

4. A game as claimed in Claim 1 and 2 where each playing piece has a specific orientation with respect to the board

5. A game, as claimed in any preceding claim which is played without a board

6. A game as claimed in any preceding claim in which each edge of each piece is marked with an indicator indicating the number one, two or zero and suitably, the numbers one and two are represented by one or two stripes respectively.

7. A game as claimed in any preceding claim in which in a second embodiment, each edge is marked with one of three colours.

8. A game as claimed in any preceding claim in which in a third embodiment, each indicator is represented by a male or female jigsawshaped component.

9. A game as claimed in any preceding claim in which each playing piece is marked with a number to indicate a value of that piece when played.

10.A game as claimed in any preceding claim in which there are 81 playing pieces such that each is unique.

11.A game as claimed in any preceding claim which uses a subset of 16 of the 81 pieces such that each is unique and each edge of each piece is marked with only the numbers one or zero and is played on a board comprising a 4x4 array of zones.

q Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A game played in accordance with rules and played in a plurality of zones and comprising a board and a set of playing pieces; the board comprising a plurality of zones adapted for receipt of a playing piece, wherein each piece has a plurality of edges, each edge of each playing piece being marked or shaped to match at least one edge of another playing piece.

2. A game as claimed in claim 1 in which the board comprises a 9x9 array of zones.

3. A game as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each playing piece is square, having four edges.

4. A game as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein each playing piece has a specific orientation with respect to the board 5. A game as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the board is not constituted by a physical entity.

6. A game as claimed in any preceding claim in which each edge of each piece is marked with an indicator indicating the number one, two or zero.

7. A game as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which each edge is marked with one of three colours.

8. A game as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which each edge of each piece includes a male or female jigsaw-shaped component.

1 O.A game as claimed in any preceding claim in which there are 81 playing pieces such that each is unique.

11.A game as claimed in claim 10 which uses a subset of 16 of the 81 pieces such that each is unique and each edge of each piece is marked with only the numbers one or zero and the board comprises a 4x4 array of zones.

12.A game as claimed in any preceding claim played substantially in accordance with the rules given herein.

1 3.A game substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.