Abstract:
Disclosed is a board game providing opportunities for drinking (e.g., social drinking) beverages (e.g., alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages) during playing of the game. The board game includes a plurality of side games. Of these side games, the board game provides for various miniature competitions between selected players of the plurality of players playing the game, when one of the players lands on a location of the board providing for a miniature competition. The miniature competition can be a drinking game known on college campuses. Each player has a game or playing piece which initially is in the form of an empty carton for bottles (e.g., an empty 6-pack carton), and winners of the miniature competitions win bottle-shaped structures (e.g., beverage bottle-shaped structures) to be placed in the winner&#39;s carton. The game is won by the player filling the carton gamepiece with bottle-shaped structures (e.g., filling a 6-pack carton with six beverage bottle-shaped structures).

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) of prior provisional Application No. 60/526,017, filed Dec. 2, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a board game, and more particularly to a board game that can incorporate drinking (for example, social drinking), e.g., of beverages (favorite beverages, such as alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages), especially incorporating various drinking games used in colleges.  
         [0003]     Various board games have been developed and been popularized, which require certain activities to take place when the gamepiece of a player lands on a particular location of a board. For example, attention is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,650 to Reed, et al., entitled “Method of Playing a Board Game of College Social Life”. The board game described in this patent is directed to extracurricular aspects of higher education and incorporates physical actions by the players or teams during the course of playing the board game. The game board described in this patent includes a playing path located on the perimeter of the board and spaces for stacks of various types of cards used during the course of play. A single die is used by the players or teams during the course of play in order to determine movement and position of the playing pieces. As a player&#39;s playing piece lands on a specific location, a card is drawn and the player must then perform an action consistent with directions on the card. Various of the cards include directions for drinking, e.g., alcoholic beverages.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,650 is directed generally to extracurricular activities during the college experience, which include (but of course are not limited to) drinking, and involve, generally, game playing by a player against all other players playing the game.  
         [0005]     U.S. Design Pat. No. D477638 discloses a board game for drinking, but does not set forth the mechanics and procedures of the game.  
         [0006]     It is desired to provide a board game having competition among all of the players as a whole, while, within the game, having individual competitions between specific ones of the players, in a board game which involves drinking of, e.g., alcoholic beverages (but not limited to drinking wherein the beverage is an alcoholic beverage; the beverage can be a non-alcoholic beverage).  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a game board, and a method of playing a game (that is, a method of playing a board game), which includes a competition among all the players, as well as specific competitions between selected ones of the players (that is, miniature competitions), e.g., less than all of the players, for example, between two of the players. The board game includes a plurality of side games which are played during the playing of the board game in general; these side games include the miniature competitions.  
         [0008]     The game board includes locations which give rise to these miniature competitions between selected players, and other locations giving rise to drinking sips of, or chugging, a beverage (for example, but not to be limiting, an alcoholic beverage, but which can also be a non-alcohol beverage, for example, a favorite beverage). Thus, the side games are initiated by one of the players landing on a location designating that the side game be played. Illustratively, and not to be limiting, the miniature competitions can be drinking games quite often played on college campuses, such as (but not limited to) “Quarter Challenge” and “B.S. Bluff”. Illustratively, the game board has locations which, when landed upon by a player, will require such player or another player to drink the beverage.  
         [0009]     As an additional aspect of the present invention, the gamepieces (playing pieces) provide competition among all of the players. Each game (playing) piece can start out as, for example, a piece resembling an empty carton, such as an empty carton for holding a six-pack of beverages with structures being added to the gamepiece during playing of the game, for example, when winning a miniature competition. One overall object of the game is to completely fill the player&#39;s carton (playing piece) with structures, the first one completely filling the carton being the winner.  
         [0010]     Illustratively, and not to be limiting, the carton can be in the shape of a 6-pack container for, e.g., a beverage such as beer, with each of the structures for filling the container being in the shape of a bottle (for example, a beverage bottle, such as a beer bottle). The winner of the game is the first one to add six bottle structures to the empty 6-pack playing piece. Of course, the playing piece can hold less than or more than six structures, e.g., 12 structures in the shape of bottles, for example.  
         [0011]     Accordingly, the present board game, and method of playing the board game, provide entertainment generally with competition among all of the players, with side games, and with miniature competitions within the general board game providing selected competition between specified ones of all of the players. Moreover, the present board game has an additional feature of providing drinking, including social drinking, of, e.g., a favorite beverage, for example, an alcoholic beverage such as beer, while playing the board game. The board game uses unique playing pieces and additional components (e.g., bottle structures) for determining the winner of the game. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a view of the game board of the present invention, showing both a perimeter path and a path diagonally across the board, so that a player can have a greater choice of direction of movement of the playing piece as compared to just forward and reverse.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows five empty 6-pack gamepieces respectively for, e.g., five players playing the game. While these pieces are numbered 1-5, each of the gamepieces (corresponding to cartons for holding beverages such as beer) can have a distinct design of a specific type or brand of beverage (for example, “Budweiser”, “Heineken”, etc.). While five gamepieces are shown, each player will have a respective gamepiece; and, for example, where more or less than five players are playing the game, there will be a respective number of gamepieces.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a bottle-shaped structure to be inserted into the gamepiece of  FIG. 2 . Illustratively, where there are two miniature competitions on a game board, the bottles can be two sets respectively of different colors, with one set of the colored bottles being for a first miniature competition, and the other set of bottles, of the second color, being for the second miniature competition. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     Throughout the present disclosure, where it is described that the structure comprises or includes specified components, the structure can consist essentially of, and consist of, the specified components; and where it is described that the method comprises or includes specified steps, the method can consist essentially of, and consist of, such specified steps.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a game board for one embodiment of the present invention. The game board has a continuous path around the periphery of the board, for movement of the gamepieces, and has at least one path diagonally across the board for movement of the gamepieces. Thus, at, e.g., location space  6  adjacent “*START* A RULE”, on the board in  FIG. 1 , the player has a choice to follow the peripheral path or diagonal path. The board has specified locations whereby, when a player&#39;s gamepiece lands thereon, the player must follow the game rules with respect to that location, as discussed in the following.  
         [0017]     In the following is set forth objects and rules for one specific embodiment of the game according to the present invention, using the game board of  FIG. 1 , gamepieces of  FIG. 2  and structures of  FIG. 3  for filling the gamepieces of  FIG. 2 . The rules of this specific embodiment are not to be limiting, describing one embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0018]     According to this embodiment, the object of the game is to fill an empty 6-pack gamepiece with bottles (for example, green and brown bottles) collected throughout game play. These bottles are awarded, inter alia, respectively to the winner of two miniature competitions played in the game (Quarter Challenge, B.S. Bluff), each time the miniature competition is played, these two miniature competitions being discussed in the following. This game can be played with players&#39; favorite type of beverage, which can be an alcoholic beverage but can also be other types of beverages. The game is not intended to be played only with alcoholic beverages, and can be played using non-alcoholic beverages.  
         [0019]     In getting started, the game desirably has at least three players, more preferably four or more (e.g., five) players. A quarter and two cups (preferably, non-transparent cups) are also needed. One of these non-transparent cups will be placed on the center of the board in the “DRINK CUP” spot; and a comfortable amount of a favorite beverage (e.g., beer) is poured in this first non-transparent cup (“DRINK CUP”). The other non-transparent cup goes on the B.S. Bluff circular spot, near the “Drink Cup Right”, and is, e.g., inverted, with one of two dice placed under this other non-transparent cup. The quarter is placed on the spot on the game board with the picture of the quarter (quarter holder  5  in  FIG. 1 ). Bottles (e.g., plastic bottles) are placed on each of the bottle spaces on the game board. Green bottles, for example, are placed on the “Quarter Challenge” spaces  9 , and brown bottles are placed on the “B.S. Bluff” spaces  11 ″. A deck of cards (regular playing cards) is placed on the “CARDS” spot on the board.  
         [0020]     Each player chooses an empty 6-pack and begins on the space marked *START* A RULE. Each player rolls one dice, and the highest roll goes first. After this person having the highest roll goes, the game order moves, for example, counter clockwise.  
         [0021]     The game is played by rolling only one of the die. Whatever the number rolled, is the amount of spaces that the player may move. When landing on a numbered spot, depending on the number rolled on the die, the player landing on the numbered spot will either drink or pass out a number of “sips” (“sips” of the beverage). “Sips” are determined by the difference between the die roll and the number on the board. If the die number is higher than the number on the board, the player passes those “sips” to another player. If the die number rolled is lower than the number on the board, the player must drink that amount of “sips”. When passing out the number of “sips”, the player may split them between two or more other players. If the die number is equal to the number on the board, each player “sips” the number amount on the die/board in a “social” manner. The DRINK CUP is filled with more beverage at this time.  
         [0022]     Illustratively, if a die roll is a 5 and the player lands on a number 3, two “sips” are passed out. If the player&#39;s die roll is a 3 and the player lands on a number 5, the player must consume 2 “sips”. If the die roll is a 5 and the player lands on a number 5, everyone says “SOCIAL” and everyone takes 5 “sips”.  
         [0023]     In the following are set forth specific rules when a player lands on other spaces of the game board shown in  FIG. 1 . Note that the red card spaces in  FIG. 1  are represented by the reference character  1 , and the black card spaces in the board of  FIG. 1  are represented by the reference character  3 . Other reference characters set forth in  FIG. 1  are designated below.  
                                       *START* A RULE   After the initial start of the game, if a player       (side game)   lands on the *START* A RULE space, that           person is entitled to make a rule for the entire           rest of the game. Everyone MUST adhere to           the Rule set by the player. The following Rules           are only examples; any Rule may be made.                  
 
         [0024]     (Example (1) of a Rule: Thumb rule: When the player (who made this rule) secretly places his or her thumb on the table, the other players must do the same. The last person to place his or her thumb on the table must drink until the Thumb master puts his thumb down; Example (2) of a Rule: Anytime someone says Drink, Drank, or Drunk, you must take a “Sip”; etc.)  
                                       RED CARD/   When a player lands on this space, he/she       BLACK CARD   must pick up a card. The number on this           card is the amount of “Sips” you must pass to           another player or consume yourself. If you are           on a RED CARD space, and you pick a card           with “red” numbers, you pass out this amount           of “Sips”. If you choose a card with BLACK           numbers, you must consume this amount of           “Sips. Vice-Versa when landing on a BLACK           CARD space.           (Note: All Face Cards are worth 10 “Sips”. You           may split the number of “Sips” between           multiple players)       DRINK CUP LEFT   When a player lands on this space, the player           to the left of the player must drink the beverage           in the center DRINK CUP, and then put more           beverage in the DRINK CUP.       DRINK CUP   When a player lands on this space, the player           must drink the beverage in the center DRINK           CUP, and then put more beverage in the           DRINK CUP.       DRINK CUP RIGHT   When a player lands on this space, the player           to the right of the player must drink the           beverage in the center DRINK CUP, and then           put more beverage in the center DRINK CUP.       STEAL A PIECE   When a player lands on this space, the player       (Reference   may take a piece (bottle) from any other player.       character 19)   (Note: The player may only take a piece from           other players, not off the playing board)       POUR IN CUP   When a player lands on this space, the player       (Reference   must pour beverage into the center DRINK       character 13)   CUP.       MOVE TO ANY   When a player lands on this space, this       SPACE (Reference   enables the player to go to any space on the       character 21)   board.       3MAN   When a player lands on this space, the player       (Reference   is declared 3MAN. Whenever a three is rolled,       character 17)   the 3MAN must drink 1 “Sip”. To get out of       (side game)   being 3MAN, the player must roll a 3 or           another player must land on the 3MAN spot,           making the other player the new 3MAN.       CHOOSE THE   When a player lands on this space, the player       AMOUNT (Reference   chooses another player to drink however many       character 15)   “Sips” the player wants the other player to           drink.       GO TO DRUNK   When a player lands on this space, the player&#39;s       TANK   gamepiece is moved across the board to the           DRUNK TANK space located below the           WATERFALL space. When entering the           DRUNK TANK, the player to the right of the           player in the “drunk tank” begins a           WATERFALL. (See “waterfall” for           instructions). The player must stay in the           DRUNK TANK until the player rolls a 1 on the           die. The player has 3 chances to roll a 1 on the           die. If a 1 is not rolled in these 3 chances, it is           the turn of the next player in the rotation. When           a 1 is rolled by the player in the DRUNK           TANK, the player moves to the large W space           on the board. At this time the player getting out           of the DRUNK TANK begins the           WATERFALL.       WATERFALL   Everyone playing the game must partake in a           WATERFALL. To begin a WATERFALL,           everyone begins drinking at the same time.           When the person who started the           WATERFALL stops drinking, the 2nd in line           may stop, then the third may stop drinking,           then the fourth player may stop, then the next,           and so on.           (Note: the WATERFALL is only played when           entering and leaving the DRUNK TANK, not           during regular game play. All other use of this           space is by the number on that space. A player           may drink for however long as they feel           necessary during the WATERFALL)                  
 
         [0025]     There are two ways to win bottles for filling the 6-pack container. These are set forth in the following:  
                                                       QUARTER   When a player lands on QUARTER           CHALLENGE   CHALLENGE, that player chooses another           (Reference   player to play a game of quarters. Quarters is a           character 9)   game where two people rotate attempts in               bouncing a quarter into the center DRINK               CUP. Whichever player gets the quarter in the               drink cup first gets awarded the Bottle               gamepiece. The player who lost must drink the               entire DRINK CUP.               (Note: If a player lands on a QUARTER               CHALLENGE space without a bottle               gamepiece, that player may only challenge               a contestant with a QUARTER CHALLENGE               bottle. If no one else has a QUARTER               CHALLENGE bottle except the player on the               space, the player must still choose another               player, and then defend the bottle gamepiece).           B.S. BLUFF   B.S. BLUFF is a dice game in which both of           (Reference   the dice are used, along with the second non-           character 11)   transparent cup. The player that lands on a               B.S. BLUFF space challenges another               contestant. B.S. BLUFF is played between               these two players. The object is to get the               highest combination number on the dice.               (Note: You may BLUFF to get a higher               number).               The player 1 who landed on the B.S. BLUFF               space places both dice under the cup (which is               inverted), and goes first by shaking the cup to               mix up the dice. Without showing anyone else,               the player 1 slightly tilts the cup to see the               number combination on the set of die.               (Example: A roll of a number 2 on one of the               die, and a 3 on the other die, would be a 32               combination) The player 1 then announces this               number (32) to the opponent (player 2). The               opponent (player 2) would then shake the cup               and mix up the dice. The opponent (player 2)               must shake the dice, and get a higher number.               (Example: A roll of a number 4 on one of the               die, and a 5 on the other die would be a 54               combination) The opponent (player 2) then               announces this number 54 to the player 1.               Once again, the player 1 will shake the cup               and mix up the dice, trying to get a higher               number than the opponent (player 2). (If a               player 1 shakes a lower number (21) than the               opponent&#39;s (player 2&#39;s) number (54), then the               player must BLUFF by announcing a higher               number (63, for example). This goes back and               forth between the two players. (At any time               one of the players (1 or 2) believes the other IS               bluffing, that player will lift the cup to see the               combination of the two dice. If the other player               was telling the truth, the bottle gamepiece is               awarded to that player and the challenger must               take 1 “Sip”. If the other player is bluffing, and               the number is lower, the player (1 or 2) who               called the bluff is awarded the bottle               gamepiece &amp; the loser must take 1 “Sip”.)               If a double combination is rolled, such as a 1               and another 1, that combination (1, 1) is higher               than a (65) combination. Double two&#39;s (2, 2) are               higher than double one&#39;s (1, 1), double three&#39;s               (3, 3) are higher than double two&#39;s (2, 2), double               four&#39;s (4, 4) are higher than double three&#39;s (3, 3),               double five&#39;s (5, 5) are higher than double four&#39;s               (4, 4), and double six&#39;s (6, 6) are higher than               double five&#39;s (5, 5).               (Note: Double combinations are always higher               than regular combinations such as 31, 65, 21,               54, etc . . . )               The ultimate BLUFF is a four and a one (4, 1)               combination. If this combination is shaken,               the player 1 who shook this combination (4, 1)               places one of the two dice on the top of the               inverted cup and hides the other die under the               cup allowing the opponent (player 2) to see               only one of the numbers on the die. If the               opponent (player 2) believes the player 1 has               the other corresponding number hidden under               the cup, the opponent (player 2) will roll the die               on the top of the cup. The number that is rolled               is the amount of “Sips” this player must drink.               The game then resets, and is started over               between the same two players. (If called on a               bluff with this combination (4, 1) and the player               1 is NOT bluffing with a (4, 1) combination, the               opponent (player 2) must roll both dice. The               amount on the dice is the amount of “Sips” the               opponent (player 2) must drink. (Example: a               roll of a 4 and 3 would add up to 7 “Sips”. At               this time the B.S. BLUFF bottle gamepiece is               awarded to the player 1. (If called on a BLUFF               with this combination (4, 1) and the player 1 IS               bluffing the player 1 must roll both dice. The               amount on the dice is the amount of “Sips” the               player 1 must drink. At this time the B.S.               BLUFF bottle gamepiece is awarded to the               opponent (player 2).               (Note: You may BLUFF at any point! (higher               combination, Doubles, or even a (4, 1)               combination. If a player lands on B.S. BLUFF               space without a bottle, that player may only               challenge a contestant with a B.S. BLUFF               bottle. If no one else has a B.S. BLUFF bottle               except the player on the space, the player               must still choose another player, and then,               defend the bottle gamepiece.)               If a player lands on a B.S. BLUFF or               QUARTER CHALLENGE space without a               bottle gamepiece, the player can only play               someone with a similar (color) bottle               gamepiece. If no one has a similar (color)               bottle, the player that landed on the space               chooses their opponent.                      
 
         [0026]     Many different embodiments of the present invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described in this specification. To the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims.