JP4309861B2 - Game equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game apparatus suitable for a game using a plurality of pieces (including pieces, stones, and the like), such as Go and Othello games ("Othello" is a registered trademark).

  Conventionally, the player places pieces of different colors in order on the grids and intersections of the game board (board) having a matrix of M × N (M and N are integers of 2 or more), and a predetermined number n There are widely known play methods (such as n-th row arrangement and go) that compete for the speed of consecutively arranging the frames and the size of the base surrounded by their own frames. In addition, using the same board surface, place the frames colored in white and black on the front and back in order, and sandwich the opponent's frame with your own frame on any of the vertical, horizontal, or diagonal lines The Othello game is also well known in which the opponent's frame sandwiched between the two is reversed and changed to its own frame, and finally the number of remaining frames is competed.

  Each of these playing methods requires a competition board and a large number of pieces, is inconvenient to store and carry, and has a problem that the pieces are unstable and difficult to play when moving in a car or the like. For this reason, for example, in Patent Documents 1 to 3 below, game devices in which magnets are built in pieces or competition boards, or pieces are rotatably arranged in the competition board are proposed.

  By the way, since the conventional game apparatus can only provide the above-described play method on a flat game board, there is also a problem that the change is scarce. However, on the other hand, when a complicated rule is added to an existing game method or a game method based on a completely new rule is proposed, the game or the rule itself may not be widespread, and a dedicated device is required. Therefore, it becomes a factor of high cost.

  From such a point of view, for example, game equipment capable of three-dimensional play as in Patent Documents 4 and 5 below, game equipment capable of simultaneous battle with a large number of people such as Patent Document 6, and Patent Document 7 There has also been proposed a game apparatus that provides a play method simply by adding a simple rule such as

JP-A-5-228235 JP-A-5-269236 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-277200 JP-A-8-19637 JP 2004-298536 A JP-A-9-248362 JP-A-8-84802

  However, none of the above-described prior arts has realized a game device that is convenient for storage and carrying, and that can give variations to the game method without proposing new rules. In addition, since any of the prior arts only provides a single play method, it can be said that there is little change in that respect.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. The game board and the piece are integrated to improve storage and portability, and can be played while moving, and variations in the playing method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game device capable of providing a plurality of play methods with one game device.

  According to a first main aspect of the present invention, the housing includes a casing made of at least three or more polyhedrons and a plurality of frames arranged in the casing. It has a plurality of openings formed in a matrix form of N (M and N are integers of 2 or more), and the frame has a plurality of display surfaces that can be identified by at least 2 or more. And at least one display surface is disposed so as to be identifiable from each opening of the housing, and a plurality of display surfaces can be selectively exposed by rotating with respect to the opening. There is provided a game device characterized by the above.

  According to such a configuration, since the tops are arranged in the housing constituting the competition board, the storability and portability are improved, and play during movement is also possible. In addition, a three-dimensional and varied game method can be provided without changing the conventional rules.

  When the casing is configured by connecting a plurality of casing units, the casing unit can be assembled into a pyramid type (triangular pyramid) or a complex three-dimensional shape with unevenness.

  Furthermore, when a plurality of hemispherical protrusions are formed on the surface of the piece and different colors and / or patterns are applied to these protrusions, different games can be played by using different protrusions. , You can set free rules between opponents, and can expand the variation of play with a single instrument.

  According to the present invention, the game board and the piece are integrated to improve storage and portability, play at the time of movement is possible, and variations can be given to the playing method. It is possible to obtain a game apparatus capable of realizing the game method.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a gomoku arrangement (ream) will be described as an example of the playing method.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a housing unit, and FIG. 3 is a frame and a frame of the housing unit taken along line XX in FIG. FIG. The game device 1 includes a housing 2 in which a plurality of housing units 3 are connected in a three-dimensional direction, and a large number of pieces 4 arranged inside the housing unit 3. In the example of FIG. 1, 4 × 4 × 4 = 64 housing units 3 are connected to form a cubic housing 2. It should be noted that the central housing unit 3 (2 × 2 × 2 = 8) that is not related to play may be omitted to form a hollow shape. Further, the number and direction of connecting the casing units 3 are arbitrary, and the casing 2 having a complicated shape such as a staircase shape or a zigzag shape may be used.

  In the present embodiment, a cubic housing 2 is formed by combining a first housing unit 3a for a corner, a second housing unit 3b for an end, and a third housing unit 3c for a plane. Is configured. These housing units 3a to 3c are different in the number of surfaces having a connecting structure (a side hole and a side surface to be described later). In the following description, the second casing unit 3b having a connection structure on four sides will be described as an example. It is also possible to employ the same housing unit 3 by forming a connection structure on all surfaces.

  The housing unit 3 (second housing unit 3b; hereinafter referred to as “housing unit 3”) is arranged in a cubic resin frame 5 and the frame 5 as shown in FIGS. It is composed of one piece 4 provided and eight ball bearings 6 for smoothly turning the piece 4 within the frame 5. A circular opening 7 is formed on each surface (six surfaces) of the frame 5 to expose a protrusion 4b of the top 4 described later. As indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 3, the player 4 presses the finger F from the outside of the opening 7 to rotate the protruding portion 4 b exposed in an arbitrary direction, thereby rotating the piece 4 to have different colors. The protrusion 4b can be selectively exposed. Therefore, the opening 7 is formed with a diameter (for example, about 5 to 20 mm) in which a part of the finger F can be inserted into the frame 5. The material of the frame 5 is not limited to resin, but a material that is less affected by weight reduction, rigidity, and friction on the top 4 (projection 4b) is preferably used.

  The frame 5 has a connection structure 8 on each of five surfaces other than the upper surface (above the paper surface in FIGS. 2 and 3). Specifically, either a rectangular ridge 9 protruding around the opening 7 of the frame 5 and a rectangular ridge hole 10 into which the ridge 9 is fitted are formed. Thereby, as shown in part by imaginary lines in FIG. 3, a plurality of housing units 3 can be detachably connected. Both the side groove 9 and the side hole 10 are formed when the frame 5 is formed, or are formed by cutting after forming. The surfaces on which the side holes 9 and the side holes 10 are formed and the number thereof can be arbitrarily determined. Further, the connecting structure 8 is not limited to the ridge 9 and the ridge hole 10, such as protrusions and narrow grooves, a plurality of protrusions and holes such as block toys, locking claws and engagement holes, hook-and-loop fasteners, Various well-known connection structures can be employed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the top 4 has a substantially spherical top body 4a and six protrusions (only five are shown in FIG. 3) that are integrally projected on the outer periphery of the top body 4a. Surface) 4b, 4b. In consideration of strength, formability, cost, durability, and the like, the top body 4a is formed of, for example, a resin such as PE or PP, a light metal such as aluminum, or various rubbers.

  The protrusion 4b has one front (surface) in FIG. 3 that is white, hatched densely on the top and bottom two black, rough hatched two on the left and right, and one on the back side of the sheet is the housing unit 3. It is colored with the same green color as the surface (board surface) of the plate so as to be distinguishable into three types. As a result, two players can play a rendezvous or othello game. The state where the green protrusions 4b are exposed from all the openings 7 is the initial state at the start of the game.

  In the first housing unit 3a for the corner and the second housing unit 3b for the end portion, the protrusion 4b is exposed from the opening 7 on the second surface or the third surface. Therefore, three or more green protrusions 4b indicating the initial state are required as described above. However, a different color / pattern may be applied to all the protrusions 4b without setting an initial state so that a multiplayer (up to 6 players) can compete. Moreover, you may enable it to identify by cutting and forming a fine groove, a small hole, etc. in the surface of the protrusion 4b, or changing the number of holes like a dice. For the protrusion 4b, a material such as a soft resin or rubber having some elasticity is selected in consideration of coloring, ease of pattern formation on the surface, smoothness, durability, operational feeling, and the like. After the top body 4a and the protrusion 4b are integrally formed of the same material, a pattern such as a narrow groove may be formed on the surface of the protrusion 4b.

Next, an example in which a game device 1 according to the present embodiment is used to perform a five-game match will be described.
First, as described above, an initial state in which the green protrusions 4b are exposed from all the openings 7 of the housing unit 3 is set. In this state, the two players alternately turn the pieces 4 at arbitrary positions with their fingers and change them to their own colors while competing with which one is placed first. FIG. 1 shows a state in the middle of the game in which the player rotates the piece 4 (projection 4b) by six eyes.

  In the present embodiment, not only the 4 × 4 planes but also the adjacent fifth planes can be arranged in a row. For example, it is also possible to arrange the five eyes in an oblique direction across three surfaces. Furthermore, when the housing 2 is formed in a complicated shape instead of a cube, the game becomes more complicated. As described above, the game device 1 according to the present embodiment can provide a three-dimensional and varied ream game without changing the conventional rules, and the player himself changes the number and connection direction of the housing units 3 as appropriate. As a result, the complexity of the game can be changed freely. In addition, rules can be freely set between players according to the shape of the housing 2, and an expansive game method can be provided.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not change the summary of invention.

  For example, two or more frames can be arranged in the housing unit, or different types of frames can be arranged. Further, the housing unit may be formed in a shape such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a triangular pyramid, or housing units having different shapes may be connected. Thereby, the elements of building blocks can be combined and a more varied game method can be provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the present invention can be applied to a great game. In this example, two or more advancing directions and conditions (such as dice rolls) are displayed on the surface of the housing unit, and the current positions of a plurality of players can be indicated by rotating the tops. Yes. In addition, in order to avoid the complexity of drawing, the direction and conditions which advance only to some housing | casing units are displayed. Here, when sharing with other play methods (such as Othello or Go) in one set of housing units, the surface of the housing unit that hits the corners cannot be changed for extraordinary use. Do not use the other six corners by setting the start and goal, or special rules that are not related to the direction of travel, etc. (go forward one direction in any direction, go next to the opponent's piece (return), etc.) Is preferably set.

  In addition, a magnet is built in the protrusion 4b of the same color (green) as the surface of the housing unit main body, and a magnetic metal is attached to the back surface of the case for storing the game device. The top protrusion can be returned to the initial state of the same color as the housing. Thus, when the game device is taken out from the case, the game can be started immediately without rotating the piece.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the housing unit. FIG. 3 is a view showing the frame and the frame of the housing unit taken along the line XX of FIG. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a game device according to a modification of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game device 2 ... Case 3 (3a-3c) ... Case unit 4 ... Top 4a ... Top body 4b ... Projection (display surface)
5 ... Frame 6 ... Ball bearing 7 ... Opening 8 ... Connection structure 9 ... Hojo 10 ... Hozo hole

Claims (8)

A housing composed of at least three or more polyhedrons;
Wherein the M × N on each side of the housing (M, N is determined for each surface, an integer of 2 or more) and a plurality of openings formed in a matrix of,
Has a spherical, have at least 2 or more identifiable Table示面, the housing so as to open or et dew out of the plane of the at least one display surface among the plurality of display surfaces the housing And a plurality of frames held to be able to rotate 360 degrees without dropping from the opening.
Have
The frame held at the end or corner of each surface of the housing exposes one display surface of the plurality of display surfaces from an opening located at an end of the one surface of the housing and another frame. A game device , wherein the display surface is held so as to be exposed from an opening located at an end portion of the other surface of the housing . The game device of claim 1,
The frame is characterized in that it is identifiable configured to the plurality of display surfaces by two or more different colors and / or two or more different patterns are applied respectively to the display surface of the multiple is 2 or more Game equipment. It is a game device of Claim 2, Comprising:
The piece has a display surface constituted by a plurality of hemispherical protrusions projecting from the outer periphery of the sphere-shaped frame body, in which these protrusions are exposed distinguishable from any of the opening of the housing A game apparatus characterized by being. It is a game device of Claim 2, Comprising:
The game piece having a plurality of display surfaces for different games. The game device according to claim 1,
Wherein the housing holds one or more pieces therein and having a plurality of housing units having an opening for exposing the display surface of the frame, said plurality of housings unit detachably coupled to each other game device, characterized in that constitutes a polyhedron. The game device according to claim 5,
The game device, wherein the case unit is configured to be connectable to any other case unit in a plurality of directions so that different shape cases can be formed . It is a game device of Claim 6, Comprising:
  The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the case has a plurality of types of case units configured to be connected in different directions. The game device according to claim 1,
The frame has a plurality of display surfaces that can be identified by at least three or more, and at least one display surface of the frame is distinguished from other surfaces by being provided with the same color and / or pattern as the casing. A game apparatus characterized by being configured.

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