Abstract:
A board-type game to be played by two or more players. The game includes lasers where players selectively divert the path of the laser beams. The board apparatus comprises a surface, bounded by a frame, over which laser beams are directed down symbolic rows and columns which constitute a matrix of squares. Each square is a subregion of the surface piece, and is bounded along its four sides by raised edges which are parallel and perpendicular rows and columns of the board. The raised edges, creating recessed squares, assist in orienting the playing pieces. Playing pieces may contain no mirror, one mirror, or two mirrors (oriented back-to-back to produce separate surfaces reflecting in opposite directions). Playing pieces are placed in a predetermined “starting” configuration on the squares of the gridded surface piece. Depending on whether a playing piece contains a mirror or not, said piece may reflect an incident laser beam from a row to a column or from a column to a row. A laser is placed in a predetermined position, in front of each player. The players alternate in moving pieces from square to square or rotating pieces in place, on the gridded surface, with the object of either directing their laser beam toward the opponent&#39;s “key” piece or preventing their opponent&#39;s laser beam from reaching their own “key” piece.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/353,863, filed Feb.13, 2006, now U.S. Publication No. 2006/0226602, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/652,533, filed on Feb. 14, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/679,821, filed on May 11, 2005 each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to board type games played on a game board or surface, preferably a substantially orthogonally gridded, planar surface, and more particularly to a game which selectively diverts a beam (e.g. laser beam) by user-placed mirrored game pieces that are moved laterally or rotated during play.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of Related Art  
         [0005]     Many board games have been provided which use paths across their surface as part of the game. An example of such a game is chess. In addition, games exist that depend on the deflection or reflection of objects off of other objects to “score” points.  
         [0006]     The following US Patents are examples of board games, each hereby incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,671; U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,182; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,286.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,671 (the &#39;671 patent) describes a board game that combines the features of the players creating paths and deflection of the paths. The &#39;671 patent shows a board game, having a matrix comprised of rows and columns, and an energy source, which is electricity in the preferred embodiment, that can be selectively positioned to direct energy along a selected column, thereby creating an energy path. The energy path may be diverted to a row and then back to a column by deflecting pieces. The deflecting pieces may be small mirrors. However, the &#39;671 patent does not contemplate a plurality of styles for pieces, directing energy toward a mobile game piece of an opponent, nor the unique elements and rules of the instant invention.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,182 (the &#39;182 patent) describes a board game that combines the features of the players creating paths with laser beams and deflection of the laser beam paths. The &#39;182 patent shows a board game, having a matrix comprised of rows and columns, multiple laser beams that can be selectively directed along a selected row or column, thereby creating a laser beam path. The energy path may be diverted to a row and then back to a column by selectively-placed deflecting pieces. The deflecting pieces may be small mirrors. The object of each player is to direct their laser beams toward the opponent&#39;s light-detecting scoring module while preventing the opponent&#39;s laser beams from reaching their own scoring module. The &#39;182 patent does not contemplate providing a separate single beam for each player, instead of multiple lasers per player. The &#39;182 patent also does not contemplate a game played without a light-detecting scoring module. Importantly, the &#39;182 patent does not describe a game wherein players begin the game with playing pieces placed in a predetermined “starting” configuration on the playing surface, or wherein players take turns moving said pieces on the surface to change their position or orientation; instead, the &#39;182 patent contemplates turn-by-turn addition of playing pieces to the game board.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,286 (the &#39;286 patent) describes a war strategy board game that combines the features of player-initiated playing piece movement with illumination of the playing grid. The &#39;286 patent describes illumination of radial and latitudinal paths adjacent to playing pieces, said illumination provided by electric circuitry and lights. The stated purpose for illumination is to help players know when two pieces are flanking (thus surrounding, and capturing) an opposing piece. The &#39;286 patent does not contemplate using a beam to illuminate playing pieces or mirrors to deflect light and thereby illuminate playing pieces. The &#39;286 patent contemplates a game in which the object is to maneuver one&#39;s pieces to flank (or surround) those of the opposing player.  
         [0010]     Strategy games may differ in a variety of ways. For example, the boards may contain different layouts or fields of positions. Each player may have the same or a different number of playing pieces. Each player may have the same or different kinds of playing pieces with superior strengths or capabilities. Playing pieces may be placed on the board at the start of the game or throughout the game. The playing pieces may move in a wide variety of ways on their respective boards. Players may capture the opposing pieces by moving their pieces to jump, surround, occupy the same position as, or otherwise affect the opposing pieces. Some games are limited to two players, while others allow two or more players. Each of these variations affects the strategy of play and the degree of skill required to play the game against a knowledgeable opponent.  
         [0011]     Game designs should produce a balance between opposing players or sides. Neither player should have a significant advantage over the other simply based on which side or set of pieces they are playing, or who moves first. The combination of board size and geometry, the types and number of playing pieces, the layout of the interconnecting playable positions, the manner each piece moves on the board, the manner of capture and the number of allowable players should all be taken into consideration when designing a strategy game.  
         [0012]     Game designs should involve a desired degree of skill and variation of possible moves and outcomes. They should reward strategy and thought. If the board layout, types and number of pieces, rules of movements, rules of capture and criterion for completion are overly simplistic, the game is too easy, will usually end in a draw or a predictable manner, and quickly become uninteresting for the average player. An example is “tic-tac-toe,” which (although often played with pen and paper, could also be played on a board) usually ends in a draw. Conversely, if the board size and layout, number and kinds of pieces, and rules of movement and capture are overly complicated, the game takes too long to learn is frustrating and uninteresting for the average player.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention is a game that employs a game board or playing surface, over which beams (e.g. laser beams) are directed in one embodiment down symbolic rows and columns that constitute a matrix of squares (each square being formed at the intersections of said rows and columns), and game playing pieces, some possessing surfaces which reflect the said laser beams.  
         [0014]     The present invention combines the strategy of traditional board games with modern technology, for an engaging experience. The rules are simple enough to be learned in minutes, but the options during play are plentiful enough so as to be neither dull nor predictable.  
         [0015]     The game of the present invention has the universal and enduring appeal of classic games, such as chess, checkers and go, in an embodiment which incorporates lasers.  
         [0016]     The game of the present invention generates a “beam” for each player, which can be a low-powered laser diodes to emit a beam of colored light. These beams are reflected and deflected around the playing field by mirrored surfaces of pieces, or stopped by non-mirrored surfaces of pieces.  
         [0017]     The game is won by a player who strategically maneuvers pieces to reflect a laser beam so as to illuminate a key piece belonging to his opponent, e.g., a “Pharaoh” or “King” piece.  
         [0018]     With each turn, a player may move one of his pieces to one of the potentially eight, unoccupied adjacent squares (front, back, left, right or diagonal) or may rotate (re-orient) one of his pieces.  
         [0019]     After moving or rotating a piece, that player presses a fire button that triggers the emission of a beam above and parallel to the playing surface. If the beam hits a non-mirrored surface of a playing piece, that piece is removed from the board and eliminated from further play, unless it is the key piece, e.g., “King” or “Pharaoh” piece, in which case the game ends.  
         [0020]     The pieces can vary in design and setup, with mirrors being located on multiple (e.g. one, two or more) sides or no sides. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following representative drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the game board with game pieces removed;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the game board with no playing pieces and illustrating hidden electrical components and wiring;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing electrical game board components;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one of the game pieces, a “key” game piece in the form of a Pharaoh playing piece having no mirrored surfaces;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the game piece of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one of the game pieces in the form of an Obelisk playing piece having no mirrored surfaces;  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the game piece of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of one of the game pieces in the form of a Pyramid playing piece having one mirrored surface;  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the game piece of  FIG. 10  in the form of a Pyramid playing piece having one mirrored surface;  
         [0033]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the game piece of  FIGS. 10-11 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one of the game pieces in the form of a Djed Column playing piece having multiple mirrored surfaces;  
         [0035]      FIG. 14  is a top view of the game piece of  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0036]      FIG. 15  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a lateral movement of one of the game pieces to an adjoining or adjacent square;  
         [0037]      FIG. 16  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a rotating move of one of the game pieces;  
         [0038]      FIG. 17  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a mirrored game piece reflecting a laser transmission;  
         [0039]      FIG. 18  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a mirrored game piece receiving the laser beam on a non-mirrored surface;  
         [0040]      FIG. 19  is a partial plan view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a transmission of the laser beam to multiple mirrored game pieces and then to a non-mirrored surface of a game piece resulting in removal of that game piece;  
         [0041]      FIG. 20  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating transmission of the laser to multiple mirrored game pieces and to the non-mirrored key game piece ending the game; and  
         [0042]      FIG. 21  is a schematic plan view of the game board portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating each square using a column and row number. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0043]      FIGS. 1-4  show the laser game board apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  10 . Laser game board apparatus  10  provides a game board  11  having an upper playing surface  12  and a lower surface  13 . Board  11  has a periphery  14 . Raised border  15  is positioned at periphery  14 .  
         [0044]     The raised border  15  includes a plurality of sections or flanges that can be flat or planar as shown. The raised sections includes horizontal section  16 , outer vertical section  17 , and inner vertical section  18 . A playing area  23  is defined by a plurality of smaller areas or squares that can be recessed areas  23 A, each preferably being square in shape.  
         [0045]     There are a pair of laser activating buttons  19 ,  20  positioned at opposing sides of game board  11  as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . Each of the laser activating buttons  19 ,  20  activates a laser. Each of two players has control of a button  19  or  20  during a game. The laser activating button  19  activates laser  21  for a first player. The laser activating button  20  operates laser  22  for a second player.  
         [0046]     Each of the recessed square areas  23 A is surrounded by a raised border  25  that can be square in shape as shown. The raised border  25  can be comprised of a plurality of raised elements  24 .  
         [0047]     In the bottom peripheral view of  FIG. 5 , lower section  13  of game board  11  reveals cavity  26  that is defined by the sections  16 ,  17 ,  18  of raised border  15 . Cavity  26  provides one or more battery compartments  27 . The cavity  26  can be used for containing wiring  28  that interconnects a battery (or batteries) and lasers  21 ,  22  so that power supplied by a battery that occupies battery compartment  27  can be used to power the lasers  21 ,  22 .  
         [0048]     During play, a beam  29  is selectively emitted by each laser  21 ,  22  when activated by a player&#39;s control button  19  or  20 . The laser beam  29  that is emitted by a laser  21  or  22  provides a visible indication of whether or not a particular game piece  30 ,  35 ,  40 ,  50  has been hit by the beam  29 . An illumination appears on the particular game piece  30 ,  35 ,  40 ,  50  such as for example a red or orange circular illumination or dot. However, some of the game pieces ( 40 ,  50 ) provide mirrored surfaces so that while the beam strikes the mirrored surface  45  or  55  or  56  of that particular game piece, it is also reflected toward another game piece  30 ,  35 ,  40 ,  50 .  
         [0049]     In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the game piece  30  is the key game piece, namely that game piece that ends the game when it is hit with beam  29 . Game piece  30  provides a base  31  having a periphery  32 . Vertically extending portion  33  of game piece  30  extends upwardly from base  34 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the game piece  30  is in the form of a Pharaoh. However, other forms can be used for key game piece  30  (e.g. King, Queen, etc.).  
         [0050]     In  FIGS. 8 and 9 , another game piece  30  is shown, in the form of an Obelisk. Game piece  35  has a base  36  with a periphery  37 . Vertically extending portion  38  extends upwardly from base  36 . Game piece  35  also provides a generally flat or planar underside  39 . Each of the game pieces  35 ,  40  is non-mirrored so that if either is struck by a laser beam  29 , it is removed from the game board playing area  23 .  
         [0051]     The game piece  40  shown in  FIGS. 10-12  has a base  41  with a periphery  42 . The base  41  provides a flat or planar underside  43 . A vertically extending portion  44  extends upwardly from base  41 . The vertically extending portion  44  provides a mirrored surface  45 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the mirrored surface  45  forms an angle  46  of about 45 degrees with the sides of base  41  at periphery  42 . Thus, the mirrored surface  45  falls upon a reference line  49  that extends from corner  47  to corner  48 . When a laser beam  29  strikes mirrored surface  45 , it will turn 90 degrees as will be illustrated more fully hereinafter.  
         [0052]     The game piece  50  is also a mirrored game piece. Game piece  50  provides a base  51  having an underside  52  and a periphery  53 . The underside  52  is preferably flat or planar. A vertically extended portion  54  of game piece  50  provides a pair of mirrored surfaces  55 ,  56  as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . Each of the mirrored surfaces  55 ,  56  forms an angle of about 45 degrees with any side of periphery  53 .  
         [0053]      FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate the moves that are available to a particular game piece  30 ,  40 ,  45 ,  50 . In  FIG. 15 , the game piece  50  is shown occupying one of the recessed areas  23 A. Arrows  57  illustrate that game piece  50  can more to an adjacent square in an orthogonal direction while arrows  58  indicate that game piece  50  can be moved diagonally as well to an adjacent space.  
         [0054]     In  FIG. 16 , curved arrows  59  illustrate that game piece  50  can be rotated. A rotational move is important for one of the mirrored game pieces  40 ,  50  in that it changes the position of the mirror  45 ,  55 ,  56  relative to the beam  29  that is emitted by either of the lasers  21 ,  22  (see  FIG. 17 ).  
         [0055]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show the game board, containing laser fire buttons  19 ,  20  and lasers  21 ,  22  having apertures. Two sets of playing pieces are shown, one can be of a dark color (e.g. gold) and one can be light in color (e.g. silver).  FIGS. 1 and 2  shown one possible configuration to start a game. The particular configuration and combination of pieces, i.e., Pharaohs  30 , Obelisks  35 , Pyramids  40 , and Djed columns  50 , shown works very well for beginners and seasoned players, creating a challenging scenario at the onset.  
         [0056]     The rules for moving and taking turns work well for a wide variety of starting configurations, and it is anticipated that players may begin with any starting configuration for which there is mutual agreement.  
         [0057]     Game board  11  can consist of a playing surface  23 , with a recessed grid of rows and columns, and a bounding frame or border  15 . Each of the squares  23 A at the intersections of the rows and columns on the board surface are recessed so as to ensure proper alignment of playing pieces. Correspondingly, the bases  31 ,  36 ,  41 ,  51  of the pieces  30 ,  35 ,  40 ,  50 , which fit into the recessed squares  23 A have the same shape so as to ensure proper alignment.  
         [0058]     The raised border or frame  15  houses two laser diodes  21 ,  22 , or any other collimated light source(s). If diodes  21 ,  22  are used, they will be of low power, being either class I, class II or class III lasers  21 ,  22 . The light sources are oriented such that the beams  29  are parallel to the playing surface  23  or the floor of the game board  11  and are aligned with column  1  and column  10 , as shown in  FIG. 21 . The raised border frame  15  also acts as a bounding surface to prevent the laser light beams  29  from extending beyond the boundaries of the game board, i.e., the beam  29  doesn&#39;t leave the confines of the playing surface  23 .  
         [0059]     In the preferred embodiment, the lasers  21 ,  22  are powered by a battery or batteries which are housed in a compartment(s)  27  in the frame cavity  26 . Also contained in frame cavity  26  are the wires which make two parallel electrical connections, each making serial links between the batteries, a laser fire switch button  19 ,  20  and a laser diode  21 ,  22 . The laser fire buttons switch can each be a normally open switch which activates the laser  21 ,  22  closest to it, for the duration the button  19 ,  20  is depressed. Once a button  19  or  20  is released, the laser is deactivated.  
         [0060]     The game pieces  30 ,  35 ,  40 ,  50  can be made of translucent plastic so as to glow when stuck by the laser beam on any non-mirrored surface.  
         [0061]     The game piece  30  (i.e. Pharaoh or key piece), have no mirrored surfaces. The loser of the game is the first to have his or her key game piece  30  (e.g. Pharaoh) illuminated by a light beam  29 , which signifies the end of a game.  
         [0062]     The game piece  40  possesses one surface which is a mirror  45  that reflects impinging laser light. Other surfaces of the piece  40  are non-mirrored. The mirror or mirrored surface  45  is oriented perpendicular to the base  41 , and along a diagonal line which passes through opposite corners  47 ,  48  of the base  41 . This mirror  45  orientation, coupled with the square base  41  seating into a recessed square  23 A of the game board  11 , ensures that when the piece  40  is in any space  23 A that puts the mirrored surface in the path of a laser beam  29 , the beam reflects at a right angle. This results in a change of the beam path in one of two ways, either (1) beams  29  traveling parallel to columns on the game board are reflected to be parallel to rows on the game board  11 , or (2) beams  29  traveling parallel to rows are reflected to be parallel to columns. If the piece  40  is in any space that puts one of its non-mirrored surfaces in the path of a laser beam  29 , the piece  40  is illuminated and removed from play at the end of a player&#39;s turn.  
         [0063]     The double-mirrored piece  50  can be shaped as an Egyptian Djed column. The piece  50  has two surfaces  55 ,  56  which are mirrors to reflect impinging laser light. These mirrored surfaces  55 ,  56  may be totally reflective mirrors mounted back-to-back and oriented perpendicular to the base  51 , and along a diagonal line which passes through opposite corners  60 ,  61  of the base  51  (see  FIG. 14 ). The mirrored surfaces  55 ,  56  may be opposite sides of a single beam-splitting, partial mirror (also known as a “one-way mirror”, “two-way mirror”, or “beam-splitter”.) This mirror surface orientation, coupled with the square base  51  seating into the recessed squares  23 A of the game board  11 , ensures that when the piece  50  is in any space  23 A that puts it in the path of a laser beam  29 , that all or part of the beam  29  reflects at a right angle. This results in a change of the beam path in one of two ways, either (1) beams  29  traveling parallel to columns are reflected to be parallel to rows, or (2) beams  29  traveling parallel to rows are reflected to be parallel to columns. When partial mirrors are used, a portion of the impinging beam will continue along its original path and will not be diverted, leading to the creation of two beams from a single light source. Since laser beams  29  impinging upon a double-mirrored Djed piece  50  will always strike a mirrored surface, these pieces are never illuminated and therefore never removed from play.  
         [0064]     A turn can consist of a player moving one of his or her pieces  30 ,  35 ,  40 ,  50  to an adjacent, unoccupied square (see  FIG. 15 ). One variation permits Djed Column pieces to move into adjacent squares which are occupied by either Obelisks  35  or Pyramids  40  belonging to either player. If this is done, the displaced piece is moved, retaining its rotational orientation, to the square which the Djed Column piece  50  vacates.  
         [0065]      FIG. 16  illustrates that a player may rotate one of his or her pieces (such as game piece  50  shown) one-quarter turn (i.e., 90 degrees) either clockwise or counter-clockwise (see arrows  57 ).  
         [0066]      FIG. 17  shows a laser beam  29  reflecting off surface  45  of game piece  40  (e.g. a Pyramid in this case).  
         [0067]      FIG. 18  shows a laser beam  29  terminating on a non-mirrored surface of a typical piece  40  (a Pyramid in this case). This game piece  40  would be removed from play in this illustration of  FIG. 18 .  
         [0068]      FIG. 19  shows a top view of the game board  11  with a possible configuration of pieces  30 ,  35 ,  40 ,  50  to represent a game in-progress. A heavy line represents a laser beam  29  which reflects from multiple mirrored surfaces on five pieces  50 ,  40 ,  50 ,  40 ,  50  before terminating on the non-mirrored surface of the key game piece  40  (e.g. a Pyramid), which would be removed from the game board at the end of this turn.  
         [0069]      FIG. 20  shows a top view of the game board  11  with a possible configuration of pieces to represent a game in-progress. The heavy line represents a laser beam  29  which reflects from four mirrored surfaces on four pieces  50 ,  40 ,  50 ,  40  before terminating on the non-mirrored surface of key game piece  30  (e.g. a Pharaoh). Such a situation would mark the end of the game. The player whose key game piece  30  (e.g. Pharaoh) was hit by the beam is the loser.  
         [0070]      FIG. 21  shows a numbering scheme for the rows and columns of the game board  11 , for the purpose of aiding the description of play. While a specific composition of pieces comprising each set, along with a specific starting configuration, is discussed below, it is important to note that the pieces composing each set at the beginning of the game can be any number and combination of types agreed upon by the two contestants, as long as there is one Pharaoh (key piece) each. Likewise, at the start of a game, the pieces can be arranged in any agreed upon configuration, as long as the placements of pieces in each player&#39;s set has the same arrangement when viewed from one side of the board as the arrangement of the opponent&#39;s pieces has when viewed from the opposite side of the board. (This arrangement holds true in traditional chess, with the exception of the placement of the king and queen, which are symmetric about the chess board&#39;s midline running between the two starting positions, i.e., white has the king on the right of the queen, while black has the queen on the left of the king.)  
         [0071]     Assuming the two colors used to differentiate the players&#39; sets of pieces are gold and silver, the following table provides a guide to the starting positions for those players&#39; pieces. This configuration is shown in a perspective view in  FIG. 1  and in a top view in  FIG. 2 . The square designations for column and rows are given in  FIG. 21 . For this specified arrangement, the gold-player&#39;s laser fire button is the one closest to the C10R1 square, while the silver-player&#39;s button is closest to the C1R8 square.  
                                                                                                 Starting location specified in  FIG. 10  by column and row                   numbers. When applicable, minor surface is       Player   Piece type   Quantity   toward corner designated by A, B, C or D.                                gold   Pharoah   1   C5R1                               gold   Obelisk   2   C4R1   C6R1       gold   Pyramid   7   C3R1   C8R2   C3R4   C10R   C385   C10R   C4R                   D   C   D   4   A   5   6                           A           D   D       gold   Djed   2   C5R4   C6R4           Column       D   C       silver   Pharoah   1   C6R8       silver   Obelisk   2   C5R8   C7R8       silver   Pyramid   7   C7R3   C1R4   C8R4   C185   C8R5   C3R7   C8R                   B   B   C   B   C   A   8                                           B       silver   Djed   2   C5R5   C6R5           Column       C   D                  
 
         [0072]     Players alternate turns. A turn consists of a player moving one of his pieces (all the pieces move in the same way, unlike in chess where each piece type is governed by a different rule for moving) either: (1) to one of the potentially eight squares which are contiguous to the presently occupied square, forward, backward, left, right, or diagonally, as long as the new square is unoccupied, while preserving the orientation of the piece, or (2) by a clockwise or counterclockwise quarter turn (i.e., .+−.90 degrees about the vertical centerline of the piece) while remaining in the presently occupied space. (There will be fewer than eight spaces available to pieces located at the periphery of the playing board.) The pieces may not, however, occupy a space in the column which corresponds to the opponent&#39;s laser location, e.g., for the starting configuration of  FIGS. 1 , 2 and using the space and corner designations of  FIG. 21  with the silver player operating the laser button  19  and the gold player operating the laser button  20 . Silver pieces are not permitted to occupy any space in column  10  and gold pieces are not permitted to occupy any space in column  1 .  
         [0073]     After a player moves a piece, he presses his laser fire button  19  or  20 . Any piece  30 ,  35 ,  40 ,  50  which is illuminated on a non-mirrored surface is removed from the board, no matter to which player the piece belongs, and the turn shifts to the other player (opponent).  
       PARTS LIST  
       [0074]     The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:  
                                   Parts Number   Description                   10   laser game board apparatus       11   game board       12   upper surface       13   lower surface       14   periphery       15   raised border       16   horizontal section       17   outer vertical section       18   inner vertical section       19   laser activating button       21   laser activating button       22   laser       23   playing area        23A   recessed square surface area       24   raised element       25   raised square border       26   cavity       27   battery compartment       28   wiring       29   laser beam       30   key game piece       31   base       32   periphery       33   vertically extending portion       34   underside       35   game piece       36   base       37   periphery       38   vertically extending portion       39   underside       40   game piece       41   base       42   periphery       43   underside       44   vertically extending portion       45   mirrored surface       46   angle       47   corner       48   corner       49   reference line       50   game piece       51   base       52   underside       53   periphery       54   vertically extended portion       55   mirrored surface       56   mirrored surface       57   orthogonal arrow       58   diagonal arrow       59   curved arrow       60   corner       61   corner       62   corner                  
 
         [0075]     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.