Abstract:
A board game with game pieces with video displays thereon, which display character and player specific images and video, which depend upon the progress of the board game and depending upon personal characteristics of particular players of the board game. Communication between the variable game pieces is facilitated.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to board games, and more particularly relates to board games with electronics, and even more particularly relates to board games with variable electronic game pieces. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the past, board games have largely utilized static physical game pieces. For example, the classic board game Monopoly has utilized small cast metal pieces such as a dog, thimble, top hat, etc. Many role playing games also utilize static character-like game pieces. 
     While these static and cast metal game pieces may have many advantages in particular uses, they also have created challenges. One common challenge created by these designs is that they require the purchase of new game pieces if it is desired to expand the choices available. Increasing the number of static game pieces can be expensive, and then require increased storage space and a concomitant increase in the amount of time needed to dig through the various game pieces. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,967 is for a board game having dynamic game pieces. Described therein is a central game piece with the ability to physically attach additional parts to the central game piece to change its appearance. The changes in appearances are limited to a finite set of variable combinations and ordering of additional parts. The system does not permit a visual change in a character, e.g. a change from the dog to the hat in the Monopoly game. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and apparatuses for playing board games with a large variety of visual distinct game pieces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a board game with an electronically variable game piece. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a compact variable game piece with an electronic counter capability. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an ability to personalize game pieces for board games. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to utilize an electronic game piece with a variable electronic display device thereon. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to provide for the ability to widely vary an appearance of a game piece for a board game. 
     The present invention is an apparatus and method for varying an appearance of a game piece, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a manner that the amount of physical storage space needed and total number of game pieces owned can be reduced, while providing for increased ability for using visually distinct game pieces. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is a system for and method for playing a board game with electronic visually variable game pieces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be more fully understood by reading the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawing wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a variable game piece of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is simplified block diagram view of the electronic circuitry of the variable game piece of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a simple drawing of a game board of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings, where like numerals refer to like matter throughout, the present invention relates to a novel variable game piece of the present invention. More specifically, now referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown a variable game piece  100  of the present invention, which includes a variable game piece first side LCD  10  and an opposing side variable game piece second side LCD  20  (hidden from view). These displays  10  and  20  may be any type of display, but LCD displays are believed to be ideal. They may be configured to display static or video images. The variable game piece  100  may also have additional displays mounted thereon between and perpendicular to the displays  10  and  20  so that images can be displayed in all directions. Numerous other configurations could be utilized as well. The variable game piece  100  is shown with a height “H”, a width “W” and a depth “D”. In one embodiment of the present invention, the variable game piece  100  is less than each of 2.5 inches high (above the game board), 1.5 inches wide (at it widest point) and 1 inches long. The width and length are measured in the plane parallel to the surface of the board game game board, while the height is measured as perpendicular to both the width and the length. 
     Variable game piece  100  is shown with a housing  1  and a game piece optional detachable customization piece  50 . Housing  1  includes game piece board game mating side  30 , which would typically sit on the game board  400  ( FIG. 4 ). At the opposite end of variable game piece housing  1  is game piece top side  40 , which includes a game piece device controls  42 , which can be used to select and move through a menu of controls and display options. Also shown is a game piece optional detachable customization piece  50 , which has customization piece mating catch  52  at each end, which fits into customization piece mating hole  44  at each end of game piece top side  40 . The game piece optional detachable customization piece  50  is shown to represent a vast variety of possible customization pieces for ornamental purposes. Also shown in  FIG. 1  is variable game piece computer interface port  60 , which may be a USB, Firewire or other data port. 
       FIG. 2  is assembled side view of the variable game piece  100 , which includes game piece optional detachable customization piece  50  combined with variable game piece housing  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a simplified electronic block diagram view of the circuit  300  of the present invention, which includes a processor  310  which can be a microprocessor, programmable logic device or other device or array of electronic components which can aid in execution of a predetermined algorithm. 
     Processor  310  is coupled to memory  370 , which could store various items, such as images to be displayed on variable game piece first side LCD  10  and variable game piece second side LCD  20 , as well as storage of instructions, battle videos and other data used in the operation of the variable game piece  100 . A computer data port  330 , which could be the variable game piece computer interface port  60  of  FIG. 1 , is shown as representative structure whereby data is input into or removed from the variable game piece  100 . Battery  340  is shown coupled to processor  310 , as is device controls  320 , which could be game piece device controls  42  of  FIG. 1 . It should be understood that numerous forms of the variable game piece  100  could be constructed which perform the novel functions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In one embodiment, the variable game piece  100  is free of any cameras which can be configured to capture images. In one embodiment of the variable game piece  100  further includes a communication module  392  for communicating via antenna  390  with other variable game pieces with Bluetooth, Near Field Communication NFC or a Wi-Fi network, and is free of any communication ability over a mobile phone network. The variable game piece  100  may include a speaker  380  for playing messages and music and other sounds at various times. Inertial sensors  394  may include accelerometers, gyros and other orientation sensing devices. In one embodiment, the system will be free of any geo-location sensors or communication such as GPS. 
     The variable game piece  100  could function as follows: 
     The game piece device controls  42  are used to control the operation of the variable game piece  100  by selecting what and how the images to be displayed on variable game piece first side LCD  10  and variable game piece second side LCD  20  are displayed. For example, both displays  10  and  20  could show the same image or different images. The displays  10  and  20  could be configured with the game piece device controls  42 , or a remote pc via variable game piece computer interface port  60  to display a numeral which is representative of a counter. For example, it could display a number corresponding to the turn of the turn taken, the player number of the player, or the time taken by the player to take an action, the collective time taken by a player during the game. Still other information could be displayed such as, but not limited to, points earned by a player, amount of life left in a player. There may be multiple numbers displayed for each character, such as points earned and life remaining. These may be organized into a main number and a sub number. Descriptive text may be included along with the numbers and the images. 
     Where the variable game piece  100  includes both NFC and inertial sensors, two pieces may communicate with each other when brought into close proximity, or if they are tipped individually or at the same time. In some games, the pieces may “battle” each other and display a computer simulated video representative of a battle and may make battle sounds, enhancing the game experience for the players. 
     The variable game piece  100  is sized and configured to be use on board games such as Monopoly, Life, Dungeons and Dragons and Pathfinder as well as similar board games. The size of the variable game piece  100  is small and can be easily used as a replacement piece for the original game pieces that are sold with such games. 
     The small sized variable game piece  100  may often be used with a folding game board  400 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . There is also shown a fold area  410  which separates a first board game area  420  and a second board game area  430 . The folding game board  400  may have a start position  440  and several intermediate play locations such as  442 ,  444 ,  446  and  448 . An end position  450  may be included as well. Still other board configurations could be used with or without specific beginning and end locations. The variable game piece  100  is sized so that it can be placed in and or near an intermediate play location and be small enough that it is clear which play location is associated with the particular variable game piece. In some role playing games and collectable card games, the game boards have larger locations to accommodate larger game pieces. For such games, the present invention may include embodiments where the foot prints are 2×2 inches and even 3×3 inches. The height will be variable commensurate with the footprint. 
     It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.