Miracle five game
The present invention relates to a board game in which two or more players attempt to set three or more playing elements in a row on grid based playing surface either horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Players take turns either setting or moving a playing element. A playing element may be moved to an adjacent square, over a series of one or more opponent's playing elements, or along a designated path on the playing surface.
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The present invention relates generally to the field of board games to be played by one or more persons. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, the application relates to a grid-based board game and method of play wherein the goal is to be the first player to arrange at least three (3) playing elements in any one direction (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) on the grid.
BACKGROUNDGames involving strategic movement and/or positioning of playing elements along a grid-based board are well known in the art. These games include (but are not limited to) chess, checkers, backgammon, parchissi, etc. However, board game enthusiasts are continually looking for new challenges and modern games of strategy, and the features and advantages of the present invention are described in greater detail within this description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a board game that includes a grid-based playing board/surface and at least two sets of playing elements. Each set of playing elements contains a plurality of playing elements for each potential player. Each player takes a turn by either setting an unused playing element into play on the playing surface or by moving one of his individual playing elements already in play on the playing board/surface. The goal is to be the first player to arrange at least (3) of your playing elements in any direction (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) on the grid based board/surface.
In accordance with one embodiment, playing elements are considered to be in any one of two possible states and movement of the element is limited in accordance with which of the states the element is currently in at the time of movement.
Additionally, each of the playing elements has a first side and a second opposite, wherein one of such sides is always visible and indicates a state of a playing element. A playing element may be “promoted” during play of the game such that the element is then flipped over. Accordingly, while still on its first side, a playing element is considered to be in a first or “Regular” state and may be moved in a limited direction, in accordance with its first or “Regular” state. Once “Promoted”, a playing element is then flipped over such that the second side is visible and it may then be moved in additional directions, in accordance with its “Promoted” state.
Furthermore, as part of the instant invention, there is provided a method of playing a grid-based board game, wherein during each player's turn, that player may either set an unused playing element into play on the playing surface or may move one of its playing elements already in play on the board/surface. Movement may take place by moving a playing element to an adjacent space, by moving a playing element over a series of one or more of an opponent's playing elements, or by moving a playing element any distance over a designated path along the board/surface—provided that the movement does not require leaving the designated path.
The present invention for a grid based playing game in which each player has a set of playing elements. The object of the game is to be the first player to arrange at least three (3) consecutive playing elements in a row (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) on the grid based playing board or playing surface.
The GameAs shown in
As further shown in
In a preferred embodiment, each set of playing elements is made up of a plurality of playing elements—in the illustration this number is twelve (12)—and each set is a different color (with all playing elements in any one set being of the same color). It is understood that other embodiments may contain a different numbers of sets of playing elements (there always being at least two) and/or a different number of playing elements within each set.
In a preferred embodiment, the playing elements are formed as chips or discs with each playing element having two sides, one of which is always upward facing and visible during game play. More specifically,
When a playing element 20 is first put into play, it is set on the playing surface with the first side 50 preferably facing upward and visible. Such playing element 20 is said to be in a “Regular” state 70. In a preferred embodiment, the “Regular” state 70 indicates that the playing element 20 may be moved horizontally and vertically, but not diagonally. During play, as will be discussed further hereinafter, a playing element may be upgraded to a “Promoted” state. The “Promoted” state 80 is demonstrated by a playing element 20 that has been flipped over, such that the second side 60 is then facing upward and visible. In a preferred embodiment, a “Promoted” state indicates that the playing element 20 may be moved horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, as discussed in greater detail further hereinafter.
Game Play
Typically, the game will be played between two players, but other embodiments may involve a different number of players. In a preferred embodiment, the players decide who will go first and alternate turns until the game is completed. In each player's turn, a player may set an unused playing element 20 into play by placing the playing element 20 on the playing surface. Alternatively, a player may move a playing element 20 which is already in play on the playing surface. When a playing element 20 is first placed on the playing surface 10, it is placed in the “Regular” state 70 with the first or top side 50 of the playing element 20 facing upward and visible.
The object of the game is to be the first player to arrange at least three (3) playing elements in a row (either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) on the playing surface. Different embodiments within this penumbra are possible—such as three in a row, four in a row, five in row, etc. For example, as shown in
During play of the game, playing elements 20 may preferably be moved in different ways—dependent upon their state as “Regular” or “Promoted”.
During play of the game, it is also possible to “jump” or move over one or more of an opponent's playing elements.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a playing element 20 may also be moved any distance along a designated path 40 on the playing surface 10 provided that the movement does not include jumping over any other playing elements 20 which may be positioned along the designated path. More specifically, as described earlier herein, the playing surface preferably has a group of consecutive cells which are darker in color and which form a designated path. As further described earlier herein, in a preferred embodiment there is one designated path having four legs which run along each of the outside borders of the playing surface 10 and one leg which traverses the playing surface horizontally through the middle of the playing surface 10. It is understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited in this regard and other positions/parts of the board may be used as a designated path.
Similarly
Referring to both
Finally, as explained earlier herein, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention a playing element 20 changes from a “Regular” state 70 to a “Promoted” state 80 once it is in play and has been moved at least one space on the playing surface. During play of the game, playing elements 20 may preferably be moved in different ways—dependent upon their state as “Regular” or “Promoted”. Referring again to
With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that variations such as the number players, the number of playing elements in a set, the size/dimensions of the playing surface, the designated paths, and the rules of movement of pieces may be employed and still fall within the scope of protection granted by this description. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and shall not serve to limit or restrict the scope of this application.
Claims
1. A game comprising:
- a grid based playing surface comprising a number of columns and rows each having a number of cells and thereby forming a grid;
- at least two sets of playing elements, each set having a plurality of playing elements with each playing element having two sides, one of which is always upward facing and visible during game play depending upon the state of the playing element, and further wherein each side has a different appearance from the other.
- the object of the game is to be the first player to arrange at least three playing elements consecutively, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, on the grid based playing surface, wherein each player takes a turn in an orderly fashion, and further wherein a player may during his turn either set an unused playing element into play by placing the playing element on the grid based playing surface or may move a playing element which is already in play on the playing surface.
2. The game of claim 1 wherein a playing elements may be in either one of two different states, such state governing how a playing element may or may not be moved.
3. The game of claim 2 wherein a playing element may be in either a “Regular” state or a “Promoted” state.
4. The game of claim 3 wherein a playing element in a “Regular” may be moved over from a first cell to any adjacent and unoccupied cell either horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally.
5. The game of claim 3 wherein a playing element in the “Promoted” state may be moved from a first cell to any adjacent cell and unoccupied cell either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
6. The game of claim 1 wherein a playing element may be moved over any number of adjacent consecutive playing elements belonging to another player.
7. The game of claim 1, wherein the grid-based playing surface includes a designated path, which is indicated on the playing surface by a series of consecutive darker colored cells.
8. The game of claim 7 wherein playing elements may be moved any distance over any open and unoccupied cells along the designated path.
9. A method for playing a grid-based game for at least two players, said method comprising:
- placing a first element into play on an unoccupied space anywhere on a grid-based playing surface on a first turn;
- either placing a second element into play on an unoccupied space anywhere on the grid-based playing surface or moving the first element already placed into play to another adjacent unoccupied space on a subsequent turn;
- wherein the object of the game is to be the first player to arrange at least three playing elements consecutively on the grid based playing surface (either horizontally, vertically or diagonally).
10. The method of claim 9 wherein a playing element may be moved over any number of adjacent consecutive playing elements belonging to another player.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein a playing element may be moved any distance over any open and unoccupied cells along a designated path on the grid based playing surface.
12. A method for playing a grid-based playing game for at least two players comprising,
- each player taking a turn in an orderly fashion during which said player may either: set an unused playing element into play by placing the playing element on the grid based playing surface, or move a playing element which is already in play on the grid based playing surface.
- wherein the object of the game is to be the first player to arrange at least three playing elements consecutively on a grid based playing surface, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein a playing element may be in any one of two possible states, such state governing how said playing element may or may not be moved.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein a playing element may be in either a “Regular” state or a “Promoted” state.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein a playing element in the “Regular” state may be moved over from a first cell to any adjacent and unoccupied cell either horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein a playing element in the “Promoted” state may be moved from a first cell to any adjacent and unoccupied cell either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein a playing element may be moved over any number of adjacent consecutive playing elements belonging to another player.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein a playing element may be moved any distance over any open and unoccupied cells along a designated path on the grid based playing surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 18, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 24, 2009
Applicant:
Inventor: Goro Hasegawa (Chiba-Ken)
Application Number: 12/214,277
International Classification: A63F 3/00 (20060101);