Abstract:
A board game and method for learning mathematical tables includes providing a landscape having a first player area and a second player area with predefined spaces associated with each player area; positioning a plurality of game pieces on the predefined spaces of the first and second player area; advancing a first game piece of one player area towards a second game piece on the second player area; challenging the second game piece by randomly generating two independent numbers then performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, or other mathematical operation between the two numbers for each player; and removing one of the first and second game pieces from the landscape when the mathematical operations yield first and second calculated numbers, with one of the calculated numbers being inferior to the other of the calculated numbers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/775,586 filed on Mar. 10, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to educational games, and more particularly to an educational game for learning or reviewing math tables. 
         [0003]    Seldom is math a favorite subject for young grade school students, quite simply because it has been, for the most part, uninteresting. Homework has never been a fun way to practice math for most young students. The rote memorization of addition and multiplication tables has been a challenge for a very long time with little change in the manner in which math tables can be learned. Recent studies and tests have placed the United States at the 31 st  place in the world and, considering the significant decreases in both engineering and math graduates from universities, in the United States, there remains a need to help young students find enjoyment and perhaps even excitement with math while learning math tables in a less intimidating way. 
         [0004]    It would therefore be desirable to provide a system, method, and apparatus for increasing math skills that overcome disadvantages of prior art methods. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with one feature of the invention, an interactive educational game comprises a landscape with a first player area and a second player area; a border extending between the first and second player areas; a plurality of predefined spaces associated with each player area; a plurality of game pieces associated with each player area for location on the predefined spaces; and at least two dice with a plurality of numbers thereon. The two dice are added, subtracted or multiplied during play to determine which game pieces remain on the landscape. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another feature of the invention, a method for learning mathematical tables comprises providing a landscape having a first player area and a second player area with predefined spaces associated with each player area; positioning a plurality of game pieces on the predefined spaces of the first and second player area; advancing a first game piece of one player area towards a second game piece on the second player area; challenging the second game piece by randomly generating two independent numbers then performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, or other mathematical operation between the two numbers for each player; and removing one of the first and second game pieces from the landscape when the mathematical operations yield first and second calculated numbers, with one of the calculated numbers being inferior to the other of the calculated numbers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements throughout the drawings, and wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top isometric view of a gameboard populated with game pieces in accordance with the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the gameboard of FIG.  1 ;and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of the gameboard with game pieces. 
       
    
    
       [0011]    It is noted that the drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope thereof. It is further noted that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Referring to the drawings, and to  FIGS. 1-3  in particular, an educational math game  10  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated. As embodied, the math game  10  includes a gameboard  12  with different game pieces  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  21  stylized in different colors so as to distinguish between the game pieces of the different players. The game pieces  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  21  are embodied as three-dimensional bodies with a letter at the top of each body for representing the different titles of the game pieces. For an exemplary medieval theme or time period, and as best shown in  FIG. 3 , the game piece  14  includes an “A” at the top thereof representing an archer; the game piece  16  has a W at the top thereof representing a woman warrior; the game piece  18  has a “Z” at the top thereof representing a wizard; the game piece  20  has a “K” at the top thereof representing a mounted knight; and the game piece  21  has a “F” at the top thereof representing a foot soldier. Although the game pieces  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  21  are represented as simplistic figures, it will be understood that they may be embodied as three-dimensional molded figurines that have the appearance of the above-mentioned titles or any other name, title or theme as long as the game can be carried out with such game pieces. Moreover, game pieces can be in the form of two-dimensional figurines cut out of cardstock or the like with separate bases for holding the figurines upright. Thus, the game can be played with any type of distinguishable game pieces and themes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0013]    With particular reference to  FIG. 2 , the gameboard  12  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a divider or border  22  for separating a first kingdom or play area  24  of a first player (not shown) and a second kingdom or play area  26  of a second player (not shown). The divider  22  in this embodiment comprises a river, but may be embodied as a fence, wall, hedges, or other structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One or more bridges or passages  28  connect the two play areas  24  and  26 . Each area  24 ,  26  includes a plurality of spaces  30  for strategically positioning the game pieces  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  21  of each player thereon. The spaces  30  can be square, circular or of any other shape. A first protected space  32  is located in the first play area  24  and a second protected space  34  is located in the second play area. The first and second protected spaces are surrounded by mote spaces or bridges  31 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , for the exemplary medieval theme, a castle  36  may be placed on each of the protected areas  32 ,  34 . A flag  38  is preferably associated with each castle  36 . Although not shown, each castle may be surrounded by a mote and one or more bridges traversing the mote for gaining access to the castle. Please refer to the provisional application referenced herein that shows motes and bridges that connect with the castle. Areas  35  between the spaces  30  can be landscaped, forested, or include other two-dimensional imagery or three-dimensional parts to make it clear that the game pieces cannot traverse the areas but must stay on the spaces  30  or bridges  28  at all times. 
         [0014]    Although a particular layout of the gameboard is shown, it will be understood that the gameboard can have a wide variety of different layouts, configurations, spaces, areas, and/or themes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although castles  36  are shown for the exemplary medieval theme as described above, it will be understood that the gameboard may be representative of other themes, time periods, scenarios, and so on, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0015]    The following description sets forth exemplary game pieces and modes of play, it being understood that different modes of play can be implemented and that game pieces having different shapes, designs, themes, and so on, as well as the particular number of game pieces in a game, can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0016]    Game Objectives 
         [0017]    The objective of the game is to capture the flag of the opposing kingdom  24  or  26  by combating archers  14 , women warriors  16 , wizards  18 , knights  20 , and foot soldiers  21  along the way. Combat occurs when opposing game pieces land on the same space  30 . Two twelve-sided die  40  and/or two six sided die  42  or a combination of a 12-sided dice  42  and a six-sided dice  42  are rolled and the numbers are either added, subtracted or multiplied together depending on the game mode. It will be understood that more or less than two die can be used and that dice with various numbers of faces can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       General Game Rules 
     Game Setup 
       [0018]    Each player strategically places his or her game pieces  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  21  on the spaces  30  behind the river  22  which divides the kingdoms  24 ,  26 . The player&#39;s flag  38  is placed at the center of the castle  36 . Some game pieces can be placed on the spaces  30  or bridges (not shown) surrounding the castle to guard the flag while other pieces can be strategically placed near the river  22  to attack the opposing player&#39;s pieces. Each piece must be placed on a separate space and no two pieces belonging to the same player can occupy the same space  30 . The game pieces may not be located on the bridges  28  over the river  22  during setup. Each player is given three Life Tokens  44  that can be used to restore the life of the Wizard  18  up to three times during play. The wizard thus has a total of four lives. It will be understood that more or less life tokens can be used and that the life tokens can be eliminated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       Getting Started 
       [0019]    When the game is first started, each player rolls the two twelve-sided die  40 , the two six-sided die  42 , or a combination thereof ( 40 ,  42 ) as previously discussed. Depending on the game mode, the player will add, multiply, or subtract the numbers on the two die. The player with the largest calculated number moves first. 
       Moving Pieces 
       [0020]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, Foot Soldiers  21  and Women Warriors  16  can move only one space  30  at a time. Archers  14  can move up to two spaces  30  at a time. Knights  20  can move up to three spaces  30  at a time. Wizards  18  can move up to four spaces  30  at a time. It will be understood that the game pieces can be arranged to move more or less spaces than described in the exemplary embodiment. Archers, Knights and Wizards can pass other game pieces of the same player. No two game pieces of the same player can occupy the same space. For example, if a knight  20  occupies a space  30  next to a foot soldier  21  of the same player, the knight may move two or three spaces by passing the foot soldier and continues until the desired number of spaces (up to three) is reached. In this exemplary embodiment, all bridges count as a single space. 
         [0021]    A game piece of one player cannot pass the game piece of the opposing player without challenging the opposing player&#39;s game piece. The game pieces of both players may move forward and backward to attack, retreat, or defend. Diagonal moves between spaces are allowed. However, game pieces may not pass across any forested or landscape areas to get to another space. 
       Challenging the Opposing Game Piece 
       [0022]    When a game piece lands on a space occupied by an opposing game piece, including a bridge, the player that has moved the game piece first rolls both dice and, depending on the game mode, either adds both numbers, subtracts the lowest number from the highest number, or multiplies both numbers together. The opposing player then rolls both dice and does the same. The player with the largest calculated number wins the space and the losing piece is removed from the board and can no longer be played. In the event that the players roll the same calculated number, the players will roll again to determine the highest calculated number. 
         [0023]    If the losing piece is the Wizard  18 , the player gives up one of the Life Tokens  44  and both players roll the dice again. If the losing piece is again the Wizard, then another Life Token  44  is given up. This can be repeated until all Life Tokens are used up. If all of the Life Tokens have been surrendered, then the Wizard is removed from the board and can no longer be played. If however the Wizard is the winning piece, the losing game piece is taken from the board and can no longer be played. The Wizard  18  does not gain back the Life Tokens it lost during battle. 
         [0024]    The player who rolled the highest calculated number takes a turn by moving one of its game pieces, no matter which player&#39;s turn was last. 
         [0025]    Winning the game 
         [0026]    When a game piece of one player reaches the mote spaces  31  of another player, the player must first wait a turn then roll the dice before proceeding. The combination of dice when added, subtracted, or multiplied must be equal to or greater than a minimum number in order to cross the mote. When the game piece crosses the mote, the player must wait another turn before rolling the dice. The combination of dice when added, subtracted, or multiplied must be equal to or greater than a minimum number in order to enter the castle and capture the flag. See the particular game modes below for exemplary minimum numbers needed to cross the mote and to capture the flag. 
       Addition Mode 
     Getting Started 
       [0027]    When the game is first started, each player rolls two of the selected dice  40  and/or  42 . The players will add the numbers on the two dice from their respective rolls. The player with the largest number moves first. 
       Challenging the Opposing Game Piece 
       [0028]    When a game piece lands on a space occupied by an opposing game piece, the player that has moved the game piece first rolls both dice and adds both numbers together. The opposing player then rolls both dice and does the same. The player with the largest sum wins the space and the losing piece is removed from the board. The player who rolled the highest combination takes a turn by moving one of its game pieces, no matter which player&#39;s turn was last. 
         [0029]    Winning the Game 
         [0030]    When a game piece of one player reaches the mote  31  of another player, the player must first wait a turn then roll the dice before proceeding. For example, the combination of dice when added must be equal to or greater than a sum of 16 in order to cross the mote. If the number is less than 16, the player is free to move another game piece. When the game piece crosses the mote after rolling a sum of 16 or higher, the player must wait another turn before rolling the dice. In order to enter the castle and capture the flag, the combination of dice when added must be equal to or greater than a sum of 20. It will be understood that other sums can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       Subtraction Mode 
     Getting Started 
       [0031]    When the game is first started, each player rolls the two twelve-sided dice. The players will subtract the lower number from the higher number on the two dice from their respective rolls. The player with the largest difference moves first. 
       Challenging the Opposing Game Piece 
       [0032]    When a game piece lands on a space occupied by an opposing game piece, the player that has moved the game piece first rolls both dice and subtracts the lower number from the higher number. The opposing player then rolls both dice and does the same. The player with the largest difference wins the space and the losing piece is removed from the board. The player who rolled the highest combination takes a turn by moving one of its game pieces, no matter which player&#39;s turn was last. 
         [0000]    Winning the game 
         [0033]    When a game piece of one player reaches the mote  31  of another player, the player must first wait a turn then roll the dice before proceeding. The combination of dice when subtracted must be equal to or greater than a difference of 7 in order to cross the mote. If the number is less than 7, the player is free to move another game piece. When the game piece crosses the mote after rolling a difference of 7 or higher, the player must wait another turn before rolling the dice again. In order to enter the castle and capture the flag, the combination of dice when subtracted must be equal to or greater than a difference of 9. It will be understood that other numbers can be used for crossing the mote and entering the castle without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       Multiplication Mode 
     Getting Started 
       [0034]    When the game is first started, each player rolls the two twelve-sided dice. The players will multiply the numbers on the two dice from their respective rolls. The player with the largest multiple moves first. 
       Challenging the Opposing Game Piece 
       [0035]    When a game piece lands on a space occupied by an opposing game piece, the player that has moved the game piece first rolls both dice and multiplies both numbers together. The opposing player then rolls both dice and does the same. The player with the largest multiple wins the space and the losing piece is removed from the board. The player who rolled the highest multiple takes a turn by moving one of its game pieces, no matter which player&#39;s turn was last. 
       Winning the Game 
       [0036]    When a game piece of one player reaches the mote  31  of another player, the player must first wait a turn then roll the dice before proceeding. The combination of dice when multiplied must be equal to or greater than 72 in order to cross the mote. If the multiple is less than 72, the player is free to move another game piece. When the game piece crosses the mote after rolling a multiple of 72 or higher, the player must wait another turn before rolling the dice. In order to enter the castle and capture the flag, the combination of dice when multiplied must be equal to or greater than 108. It will be understood that other numbers can be used for crossing the mote and entering the castle without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       Single Dice Mode 
     Getting Started 
       [0037]    When the game is first started, each player rolls just one of the twelve-sided dice. The player with the largest number moves first. 
       Challenging the Opposing Game Piece 
       [0038]    When a game piece lands on a space occupied by an opposing game piece, the player that has moved the game piece first rolls the single dice. The opposing player then rolls the single dice. The player with the largest number wins the space and the losing piece is removed from the board. The player who rolled the largest number takes a turn by moving one of its game pieces, no matter which player&#39;s turn was last. 
       Winning the Game 
       [0039]    When a game piece of one player reaches the mote of another player, the player must first wait a turn then roll the dice before proceeding. The player must roll at least an 8 in order to cross the mote. If the number is less than 8, the player is free to move another game piece. When the game piece crosses the mote after rolling at least an 8, the player must wait another turn before rolling the dice. In order to enter the castle and capture the flag, the player must roll at least a 10. It will be understood that other numbers can be used for crossing the mote and entering the castle without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0040]    It will be understood that the above playing modes are given by way of example only, and can vary in the type of dice being used, the quantity of dice being used, the numbers required to cross the mote and breach the castle wall, and so on. It will be further understood that other playing modes, characters, tokens, and so on, can be implemented, besides those described above, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0041]    In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, portions of the game board or landscape may be blocked by a player when certain events have been triggered, such as rolling doubles, rolling the same number as the opposing player, rolling two numbers in series, exchanging a life token for a landscape token, and so on. By way of example, a landscape token, which may carry the image of a broken or burned bridge, a broken or missing cobblestone (space), and so on, can be strategically placed by one player in an attempt to block advancement of the opposing player&#39;s game pieces. 
         [0042]    It will be understood that the term “preferably” as used throughout the specification refers to one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and therefore is not to be interpreted in any limiting sense. 
         [0043]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. For example, although the game has been described and shown for two players, it will be understood that the game may be modified for only one player or more than two players. It will be further understood that the gameboard and game pieces can be embodied as a computer program, computer-operated media, an application for various operating systems, an embedded system and/or program located within the volatile or non-volatile memory associated with a processor and display, and so on, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In accordance with yet a further embodiment of the invention, a multi-faceted dice with mathematical symbols on each face for adding subtracting, multiplying, etc. can be provided. In this embodiment, two numbered dice and one mathematical symbol dice can be rolled at the same time and the numbers from the two numbered dice calculated in accordance with the mathematical symbol dice. It will be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.