Patent Publication Number: US-2018043242-A1

Title: Method of Playing a Board Game

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This divisional patent application claims priority from co-pending U.S. Non-Provisional patent application having Ser. No. 14/841,254, filed 31 Aug. 2015, entitled “BOARD GAME, having a common applicant herewith and being incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosures made herein relate generally to board games and, more particularly, to a board game in which games pieces are matched with each other by their respective distinguishing shape and/or color on a multi-space game board with certain game play affecting spaces. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Games have been played throughout human history to provide entertainment during times of leisure and recreation. In many cases, games serve a useful purpose as aids to physical coordination and motion, to learning and to strategic thinking. From children&#39;s games to sophisticated games of strategy and knowledge, many games have been devised to satisfy a wide variety of entertainment needs. 
     Board games that are played on a pre-marked surface with movable game board pieces are well known. However, it is also well known that board games have been played for centuries to provide entertainment and/or to challenge to players. Thus, the continued conception of new board games and associated game play strategies are useful and desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a board game in which a plurality of game board pieces are each distinguished by respective set of game piece distinguishers. Examples of a set of game piece distinguishers include a set of game piece distinguishers characterized by at least one shape and at least one color, a set of game piece distinguishers characterized by a first shape and a second shape, and a set of game piece distinguishers characterized by a first color and a second color. In view of the disclosures made herein, a skilled person will appreciate other implementations of such game piece distinguishers. The board game is played on a game board having a plurality of adjacent game piece spaces with a portion of those spaces being spaces that uniquely affect game play (i.e., game play affecting spaces). The game is played by matching color and/or shape of adjacent game board pieces played within the spaces on the game board. In some embodiments, placement of a game piece on one of the game play affecting spaces can provide the player of that piece with one or more game play affecting actions. Similarly, in some embodiments, placing a game piece in a manner that creates one or more specified game piece arrangements, can provide the player of that piece with one or more game play affecting actions. Still further, in some embodiments, a player can acquire and play a special affect game board piece that allows replacement of one or more previously played game board pieces. 
     These and other objects, embodiments, advantages and/or distinctions of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification, associated drawings and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram view showing a board game configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative view showing a game board configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative view showing a game board pieces configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative view showing commencement of a method for playing a game in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a illustrative view showing an example of an in-progress game after a first round of plays have been made by each one of four players. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative view showing game play prior to a player performing a “SHIFT”. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrative view showing an example of the “SHIFT” discussed in reference to  FIG. 6 , in which a desired previously played game board piece has been shifted to an immediately adjacent game board space in response to a special game board piece being played (e.g., turned in). 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative view showing an example of the “SHIFT” discussed in reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in which a additional game board piece that is played in the space previously occupied by the shifted game board piece. 
         FIG. 9  is an illustrative view showing an example of a Double Play, a Trefoil Play, and a Latice Play. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows components of a board game  100  configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The board game  100  includes a game board  102  (specifically shown in  FIG. 2 ), a plurality of standard game board pieces  104  (specifically shown in  FIG. 3 ), a plurality of special game board pieces  106  (specifically shown in  FIG. 3 ), a plurality of a first configuration of tokens (i.e., first configuration tokens  108 ), a plurality of a second configuration of tokens (i.e., second configuration tokens  110 ), and a plurality of game piece holders  111  that are each configured for holding a quantity of the game board pieces  104 ,  106  in a arranged and supported manner. 
     As discussed below in greater detail, game board  102  and the standard and special game board pieces  104 ,  106  are jointly configured for allowing the standard and special game board pieces  104 ,  106  to be played on the game board  102  and the first and second configuration tokens  108 ,  110  are used for affecting the manner in which the standard and special game board pieces  104 ,  106  can be played on the game board  102 . In preferred embodiments, the board game  100  includes one (1) game board, seventy-two (72) standard game board pieces  104  (e.g., 6 shapes×6 colors×2 each to provide a plurality of sets of standard game board pieces  106 ), twelve (12) special game board pieces  106 , sixteen (16) first configuration tokens  108 , sixteen (16) second configuration tokens  110 , and four (4) game board piece holders (i.e., racks)  111 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the game board  102  has a plurality of adjacent game piece spaces  112  provided on an upper surface  114  thereof. Certain ones of the game piece spaces  112  have a distinguishing characteristic (e.g., printed indicia) designating those spaces as uniquely affect game play (i.e., game play affecting spaces  112   a ) with respect to regular game play spaces  112   b . In preferred embodiments, the game play affecting spaces  112   a  and the regular game play spaces  112   b  arranged in a row and column grid arrangement (i.e., defined by horizontal and vertical lines) having a central game board space  112   c . Alternatively, the adjacent game piece spaces  112  can be virtually defined, such as, for example, by indicia at a central location of each one of the spaces and no lines or other indicia otherwise designating/defining the adjacent game piece spaces  112 . 
     Preferably, but not necessarily, the game play affecting spaces  112   a  are interspersed among the regular game play spaces  112   b . As discussed below in greater detail, the game play affecting spaces  112   a  can be intentionally placed with respect to the regular game play spaces  112   b  for affecting game play in a specific manner. Furthermore, although the game play affecting spaces  112   a  are preferably identical in configuration and game play affect, it is disclosed herein that the game play affecting spaces  112   a  can have differentiated configuration and respective game play affect. For example, color or shape of indicia provided within a particular one of the game play affecting spaces  112   a  can designate the particular manner in which it affects game play. 
     The standard and special game board pieces  104 ,  106  are all configured for individually fitting within any one of the game play spaces  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c . Jointly, the standard and special game board pieces  104 ,  106  are referred to herein universally and singularly as a game board piece. For example, the standard game board pieces  104  and the game play spaces  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c  can all be flat, square-shaped pieces (i.e., tiles) with the game play spaces  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c  being corresponding sized squares. Each one of the standard game tiles  104  is characterized by a respective shape and color. In some embodiments, such respective shape is in the form of an icon (e.g., printed indicia) provided on a surface thereof and the respective color is provided through the color of the icon or a background color on which/in which the icon is provided. The respective color and shape are a set of game piece distinguishers. One alternate implementation of such respective set of game piece distinguishers includes a first shape and a second shape. Another alternate implementation of such respective set of game piece distinguishers includes a first color and a second color. Embodiments of the present invention are not unnecessarily limited to any particular configuration of a respective set of game piece distinguishers. 
     Each one of the special game board pieces  106  is characterized in a manner that designates it as being different from any one of the standard game board pieces  104 , such as by having a unique indicia and/or color provided thereon. Furthermore, although the special game board pieces  106  are preferably identical in configuration and game play affect, it is disclosed herein that the special game board pieces  106  can have differentiated configuration and respective game play affect. For example, color or shape of indicia provided within a particular one of the special game board pieces  106  can designate the particular manner in which it affects game play. It is also disclosed herein that there can be a single special game board piece. In preferred embodiments, each one of the standard and special game board pieces  104 ,  106  is in the form of a tile with the color and shape characterizing indicia provided on one of the major faces (i.e., the face) thereof. 
     The first configuration tokens  108  and the second configuration tokens  110  are non-game board pieces. In contrast to the standard and special game board pieces  104 ,  106 , which are directly played on the game board  102 , non-game board pieces refers to game pieces are not played directly on the game board  102 . The first and second configuration tokens  108 ,  110 , which can be visually distinguished from each other by color, size and/or shape (i.e., token distinguishers), are used for modifying a standard manner in which the standard game board pieces  104  are played on the game board and/or for modifying a number of standard moves that a player can make during a given turn. As discussed below in greater detail, in preferred embodiments of the present invention, a player can acquire one or more of the first and/or second configuration tokens  108 ,  110  by certain actions during game play. It is disclosed herein that, in other embodiments, players can be provided with one or more of the first and/or second configuration tokens  108 ,  110  at the set-up of an instance of game play. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the board game  100 , certain components thereof have specific configuration. The special game board pieces  106  are designated by indicia visually depicting wind (i.e., each a “Wind Tile”). The game play affecting spaces  112   a  are designated by indicia visually depicting a sun (i.e., each a “Sun Square”). The central game board space  112   c  is designated by indicia visually depicting a moon (i.e., a “Moon Square”). The first configuration tokens  108  are each in the form of a stone, marble or rock having a respective color, shape and texture. The second configuration tokens  110  are each in the form of a stone, marble or rock having a respective color, shape and texture, with at least the color, shape or texture of the second configuration tokens  110  being notably different than that of the first configuration tokens  108 . 
     Presented now is a discussion on methods by which a game can be played (i.e., game play methods) using a board game configured in accordance with the present invention can be played. Preferably, but not necessarily, such game play methods are performed using the board game  100  discussed above in reference to  FIG. 1 . To this end, the board game components of the board game  100  are referenced in the ensuing discussion of game play methods. However, in view of the disclosures made herein, a skilled person will appreciate other configurations of game boards and/or game board pieces that can be used for performing game play methods configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     In setting up for an instance of game play, it is first necessary to determine which one of a plurality of players will be awarded first play. A quantity of the standard game board pieces  104  equal to one less than the number of players, plus one (1) of the special game board pieces  106 , are laid out face down and mixed such that the location of the one (1) of the special game board pieces  106  is unknown to any of the players. The players then each draw one of these laid-out and mixed game board pieces. The player who draws the special game board pieces  106  is awarded first play. It is disclosed herein that the number of standard game board pieces  104  and special game board pieces  106  can be reversed such that the player who draws the standard game board piece  106  is awarded first play. In view of the disclosures made herein, a skilled person will appreciate other approaches for using components of the board game  100  for determining the player awarded first play. 
     After determining the player that has been awarded first play, the game board pieces used for determining first play are retuned to the collective pool of game board pieces (i.e., pile of all standard game board pieces  104  and all special game board pieces  106 ). With their faces down, the game board pieces  104 ,  106  are mixed (i.e., randomized) and are then distributed among the players so that each player has their own pool of the game board pieces. The game board pieces are distributed such that all of the players have the same number of game board pieces in their respective pool (i.e., player&#39;s pool of game board pieces). For example, the game board pieces can be distributed from the collective pool of game board pieces as follows: 2 players=42 game board pieces each, 3 players=28 game board pieces each, and 4 players=21 game board pieces each), with any ‘leftover’ game board pieces being set aside and not used for game play. Accordingly, each player&#39;s pool of game board pieces has been selected with their faces down and in a randomized arrangement such that the players do not know the make-up of game board pieces in their respective pool. 
     Next, with the game board pieces in each one of the player&#39;s pool of game board pieces still laid out face down, each one of the players then draws a prescribed number of game board pieces (e.g., five (5) from their respective pool of game board pieces and places them on a respective one of the game piece holders  111  (i.e., the respective player&#39;s game piece holder). The game is played by matching color and/or shape of adjacent game board pieces  104 ,  106  played within the game play spaces  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c  spaces of the game board  102 . 
     As discussed below if greater detail, in preferred embodiments of a board game configured in accordance with the present invention, the objective is to be the first player to play all the game board pieces in their respective pool of game board pieces by matching the game board pieces remaining in their respective pool with game board pieces already played on the game board. Placement of the game board pieces is based on matching color and/or shape of a to-be-played game board piece with one or more already-played game board pieces, taking advantage of the special game board pieces  106  and the game play affecting spaces  112   a  of the game board  102 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , game play commences with the first player (e.g., the player that was awarded first play, as discussed above) selecting one game board piece from their game piece holder  111  and placing it in the central game board space  112   c . This player then completes their turn by drawing a game board piece from their respective pool of game board pieces. For clarity, in the embodiment of game play discussed in reference to  FIGS. 4-9 , the game piece distinguisher nomenclature is Shape number, Color number (i.e., S(n), C(n)). After the first play has been made, each successive player plays their turn per a prescribed sequence of players (e.g., counter-clockwise, clock-wise, etc). More specifically, the second player, and then each in turn, adds one game board piece to the game board  100  next to an existing game board piece such that for the game piece just played all adjacent game board pieces match based on either color or shape. Each player ends their turn by drawing as many game board pieces from their respective pool of game board pieces as they you played from their game piece holder  111  during that turn (or all that are left in their respective pool of game board pieces if that number is less than the number just played). In this respect, each player maintains the prescribed number of game board pieces on their game piece holder  111  as long as there are enough game board pieces left in their respective pool of game board pieces to do so. A player wins when they have no game board pieces remaining in their pool and play their last game board piece, or when all players pass (if all players pass the player with the fewest remaining game board pieces wins). If a player has drawn all their game board pieces from their respective pool of game board pieces but cannot place any one of their game board pieces during such turn, the player passes their turn. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example of an in-progress game after a first round of plays have been made by each one of four (4) players playing a game. Optionally, rather than use their turn to place a game board piece, a player may perform an “Exchange”. In an Exchange, the player uses their turn to exchange all or some of the game board pieces on their game piece holder  111  with the same number of pieces from their respective pool of game board pieces. The player performs the exchange by setting aside face down the desired game board pieces that they choose to exchange, drawing the same number of game board pieces from their respective pool of game board pieces, placing the newly selected game board pieces on their game piece holder  111 , and then mixing the set-aside game board pieces into their respective pool of game board pieces. This ends their turn. 
     During their turn, a player may use one of the special game board pieces  106  to perform a “SHIFT”. In a Shift, the player makes opens a game board space for playing the special game board piece  106  by moving one previously played game board piece one game board space in any direction (i.e., up, down, left or right). After playing the special game board pieces  106 , the player can place an additional game board piece as normal (i.e., matching it by color and/or shape). 
       FIGS. 6-8  shows an example of player performing a “SHIFT”. In  FIG. 6 , the game board  100  and played game board pieces are shown prior to the SHIFT being performed.  FIG. 7  shows the desired previously played game board piece having been shifted one game board space (i.e., shifted game board piece  120 ) in response to a special game board piece  106  being played (e.g., turned in) for allowing a game board space previously occupied by the shifted game board piece  120  to become unoccupied.  FIG. 8  shows an additional game board piece  122  that is played by the player after playing (i.e., presenting) a special game board piece  106  for allowing relocating of the shifted game board piece  120 . Beneficially, the additional game board piece  122  is played on one of the game play affecting spaces  112   a.    
     In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a player can acquire one or more of the first and/or second configuration tokens  108 ,  110  by certain actions during game play. In one example (i.e., a “Double Play”  130 ), shown in  FIG. 8  at additional game board piece  122 , a player earns a prescribed number (e.g., one (1)) of the first configuration tokens  108  when that player plays a game board piece at a space on the game board  102  that has previously-played game board pieces immediately adjacent to that space on two (2) sides. In another example (i.e., a “Trefoil Play”  140 ), shown in  FIG. 9 , a player earns a prescribed number (e.g., one (1)) of the second configuration tokens  110  when that player plays a game board piece at a space on the game board  102  that has previously-played game board pieces immediately adjacent to that space on three (3) sides. In yet another example (i.e., a “Latice Play”  150 ), shown in  FIG. 9 , a player earns a prescribed number (e.g., two (2)) of the second configuration tokens  110  when that player plays a game board piece at a space on the game board  102  that has previously-played game board pieces immediately adjacent to that space on four (4) sides (or all sides if the game board pieces have more or less than four (4) sides). Still further, a player earns a prescribed number (e.g., one (1)) of the second configuration tokens  110  when that player plays a game board piece at a game play affecting space  112   a  on the game board  102 . As a skilled person will appreciate in view of the disclosures made herein, various rules can be defined that allow the first and/or second configuration tokens  108 ,  110  to be earned by the players based on the manner in which they play their game board pieces. 
     The first and/or second configuration tokens  108 ,  110  can be redeemed (i.e., selectively used) for certain actions. It is disclosed herein that a specified action or user-selected choice of actions can be associated with each configuration of token. It is also disclosed herein that there can be only one configuration of token that serves a singular function, a function based on the number of tokens redeemed, and/or a function defined by the user for a prescribed number of tokens. One example of an action permitted in exchange for redemption of a specified number (e.g., one (1)) of the first configuration token  108  by a player during their turn of game play is an additional placement of a game board piece during that turn. Another example of an action permitted in exchange for redemption of a specified number (e.g., three (3)) of the first configuration token  108  by a player during their turn of game play is immediate access to a special game board pieces  106  (e.g., from that players respective pool of game board pieces or a set aside pool of special game board pieces  106 ). Still another example of an action permitted in exchange for redemption of a specified number (e.g., two (2)) of the second configuration token  110  by a player during their turn of game play is an additional placement of a game board piece during that turn. To promote use of the tokens, limitations can be placed on the number of tokens that can be in the possession of any one player at any given point in time (e.g., not more than a prescribed amount of the first configuration in possession at of a player at the end of any turn by that player). 
     Accordingly, in view of the disclosures made herein, a skilled person will understand that the first and/or second configuration tokens  108 ,  110  affect game play and the outcome thereof. First, that skilled person will appreciate that the first and/or second configuration tokens  108 ,  110  are valuable to a player because they can be traded for extra moves or special game board pieces, thereby allowing the player to get deplete their game board pieces faster to accomplish the ‘win condition’ of being the first player to play all of their game board pieces. Secondly, a skilled person will appreciate that players can use actions associated with the first and/or second configuration tokens  108 ,  110  to setup more complex move combinations, such as using a SWITCH and/or extra move to setup a “Latice” or to close the distance to a game play affecting spaces  112   a . In this respect, through intelligent use of the first and/or second configuration tokens  108 ,  110 , players can beneficially “chain” winning strategies to gain a significant advantage. 
     Advantageously, the game board  102  can be configured such that placement of the game play affecting spaces  112   a  with respect to surrounding regular game play spaces  112   b  is intended to have a particular impact on game play. For example, in preferred embodiments, there are seventy-two (72) standard game board pieces  104  and eighty-one (81) game play spaces on the game board  102 . Thus, if all of the standard game board pieces were played there would be nine (9) game play spaces left empty. On average, about 4-6 game play spaces are typically “dead” (i.e., a space where the adjacent game board piece colors/shapes cannot be matched or where all possible matching game board pieces have already been played by the end of the game). Preferably, the game play affecting spaces  112   a  are located closer to the perimeter edge spaces of the game board  102  than to the central game board space  112   c . Thus, although game play typically starts slow (e.g., due to few constraints or “special” game play spaces available at the beginning of the game), limits on the number of playable game play spaces means that the “challenge level” of the game gradually increases as the game progresses and is typically very high near the last few moves of the game. 
     As players learn the game, both offensive and defensive strategies become available. Offensive moves involve setting up spaces on the board for higher-value matches (open spaces with 3 or 4 adjacent game board pieces) and defensive moves involve reducing these opportunities for other players. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the game play affecting spaces  112   a  are positioned to encourage players to play toward the edges and corners of the game board  102  and to work to counteract the value of defensive play such as by opening up game play to create a greater likelihood of high-value moves for both new and skilled players and helping ensure that the game play extends to all corners by the end of the game). 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to several exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that have been used are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in all its aspects. Although the invention has been described with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent technologies, structures, methods and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.