Punch buggy board game

Abstract

A board game includes a playing structure having a playing structure upper surface marked with at least one path representing a road, the road being made up of a series of discrete spaces, at least a number of the spaces being marked with representations of driving events, and at least a number of the spaces marked with the representations of driving events being coupled with specific player instructions concerning advancement along the road in view of the nature of the particular driving event; several player tokens for marking the positions of players as the players advance along the road. The road preferably is configured as a complete loop so that players can travel around the road repeatedly during a game. The road has an outer perimeter and the perimeter preferably defines a recognizable shape of road vehicle for establishing a theme for the game. The road vehicle is preferably an automobile.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application serial No. 09/835,907, filed on Apr. 15, 2001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of board games played for amusement. More specifically the present invention relates to a game which simulates driving conditions and is played on a board marked with at least one and preferably two interconnected paths representing roads. Each player is provided with a token to move along the roads and mark his or her position at each moment of play. The roads are preferably complete loops so that the players can travel them again and again during a single game. The composite loop perimeter defines the general shape of an easily recognizable road vehicle to establish a theme for the game. The vehicle is preferably an automobile. Each road is made up of a series of spaces, many or all of which are marked with representations of common driving events, most of which are coupled with specific player instructions concerning advancement along the given road in view of the nature of the particular driving event. As each player advances along a road, the instructions for spaces on which his or her token lands not only may provide further token movement information, but also may cause gains or losses in white points, which are beneficial to the player, and in red points and license points, which are detrimental to the player. Some of the remaining spaces may be marked “Card”. At least one stack of instruction cards is provided, which may occupy a card stack location marked on the board. Some cards provide remedies for adverse road events.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] There have long been board games for entertaining players which involve rolling dice, moving tokens along marked paths and collecting representations of points, until some event(s) causes the game to end. Then the points earned by each player are counted and the winning player is identified. A well-known example of such a game is MONOPOLY™.

[0006] Another example is that of Plange, U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,842, issued on Jan. 2, 1990 discloses a board game apparatus in the form of a racing game in which tokens are moved along enumerated spaces forming looped tracks, the outer perimeter of the tracks roughly resembling the outline of the United States.

[0007] While these prior games have been entertaining, no board game known to applicant has integrated the above play elements into a game simulating road conditions and rewarding and penalizing players based upon the nature of travel occurrences encountered, or has provided a road travel vehicle theme which is reflected in token tracks defining a vehicle theme shape.

[0008] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a board game marked with representations of roadways upon which player tokens travel and which are marked with common highway events and event consequences.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide such a board game in which the composite perimeter of the marked roadways define substantially the perimeter of a recognizable road vehicle, such as that of an automobile, representing a game theme integrated into the playing instructions.

[0010] It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a board game which is driven by the excitement of competing with other players in amassing play money and remaining in play until other players reach bankruptcy and are thereby excluded from the game.

[0011] It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a board game which is played by rules which are easy to follow, distinctive and fanciful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the entire specification.

[0013] A board game is provided, including a playing structure having a playing structure upper surface marked with at least one path representing a road, the road being made up of a series of discrete spaces, at least a number of the spaces being marked with representations of driving events, and at least a number of the spaces marked with the representations of driving events being coupled with specific player instructions concerning advancement along the road in view of the nature of the particular driving event; several player tokens for marking the positions of players as the players advance along the road.

[0014] The road preferably is configured as a complete loop so that players can travel around the road repeatedly during a game. The road has an outer perimeter and the perimeter preferably defines a recognizable shape of road vehicle for establishing a theme for the game. The road vehicle is preferably an automobile. The board game preferably includes two of these roads, together having a composite outer perimeter defining a recognizable road theme for establishing a theme for the game. The theme represented by this composite outer perimeter is preferably that of a road vehicle. At least some of the instructions coupled with the spaces preferably include further token movement information.

[0015] The instructions preferably provide gains and losses in various types of game points, one type of game points being beneficial to the player and another type of the game points being detrimental to the player. At least one of the spaces preferably is marked with instructions to draw a card from a stack of cards. The board game preferably additionally includes a card stack location marking on the upper surface for placement of a stack of game instruction cards.

[0016] A method is provided of playing a board game as described above, including the steps of providing each player with one of the tokens; issuing each player a quantity of play money; each player rolling the die; the player having the highest number of upturned dots on the upturned face of his rolled die receiving a player playing turn of first, the player having the second highest number of upturned dots on the upturned face his rolled die receiving a player playing turn of second, thereby establishing player playing order; each player selecting a road; each player rolling the die in the established player order and each in turn advancing his token along the road from the first road space a number of spaces corresponding to the number of dots on the upturned face of the die; each player observing any road event marked in the space on which his token lands and noting player instructions associated with this road event and then moving his token a further number of spaces as may be designated in the instructions; each player observing any card drawing instructions marked in the space on which his token lands and where such instructions are present the player taking a card from the card stack and taking action as the card instructs, at least some of the instructions causing player gains and losses in game money; deeming each playing losing all of his money as bankrupted and out of the game; and deeming the player remaining after all other players have become bankrupted as the game winner.

[0017] The marked highway events and their consequential instructions preferably include having a flat tire and going back three spaces or using a card giving amnesty, being ticketed for speeding at least ten miles over the speed limit and going back nine spaces, being ticketed for speeding ten miles or less over the speed limit and going back four spaces, landing on an icy road and going back two spaces, entering a construction zone and rolling with only on die for the next player turn, and entering a 65 miles per hour highway zone and advancing two spaces. Non-highway events are provided in the form of landing on a spot marked with an image of a heart and advancing ahead of the winning player by one space, and accepting the benefits of instructions in all of the spaces having beneficial instructions, and landing on a “lose a turn” space and skipping one player turn.

[0018] At least two of the spaces preferably are theme spaces containing game theme markings, and a stack of theme cards bearing game them markings and white point award designations are preferably provided, the game including the additional step of a player whose token lands on a theme space drawing a theme card which awards one white point and has a certain value in play money. A player landing on all of the theme spaces earns at least one white point, the game additionally including the steps of doubling the number of white points and selling these white points for a quantity of play money.

[0019] Some of the instructions preferably cause a player to receive at least one red point, the game additionally including the step of placing the player token on a board location marked as being jail and skipping a turn before returning the given space and resuming play. Some of the instructions preferably cause a player to receive at least one license point, the game additionally including the step of the player retreating his token a certain number of spaces along the road.

[0020] The method preferably includes the additional steps of each player landing exclaiming a phrase associated with the game theme at the moment the player token lands on a theme space, and the theme is preferably that of an automobile and each theme space and associated card preferably is marked with an image of an automobile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred game board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0024] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.

First Preferred Embodiment

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, a game is disclosed which simulates driving conditions and is played on a game board 10 marked with at least one and preferably two interconnected paths representing roads 20. Players each receive a distinctive token 12, preferably configured to represent a type of vehicle, to mark their positions along roads 20 at any given moment in the game. Roads 20 are preferably complete loops so that players can travel them again and again during a single game. The composite loop perimeter 30 defines the general shape of an easily recognizable road vehicle to establish a theme for the game, this vehicle preferably although not necessarily being an automobile. Each road 20 is made up of a series of spaces 22. Many or all of the individual spaces 22 are marked with representations of common driving events, such as encountering stretches of icy road and construction zones, having flat tires, which generally require going back two spaces, and receiving speeding tickets, which result in the player collecting one red point (explained below), or landing on a school zone space causes a player to loose a turn. A player landing on a ten miles and over speeding space 22 is required to go back 9 spaces and pay $50.00, and a player landing on a ten miles and under speeding space 22 is required to go back 4 spaces and pay $25.00. Most or all of these driving events are coupled with specific player instructions concerning advancement along the given road 20 in view of the nature of the particular driving event. As each player advances along a road, the instructions for spaces 22 on which his or her token 12 lands not only may provide further token 12 movement information, but also may cause gains or losses in white points, which are beneficial to the player, and in red points, three of which cause a player to go to jail and thus lose a turn, and license points, which are detrimental to the player. A red point cancels out a white point. Some of the remaining spaces may be marked “Card”. At least one stack S of instruction cards 40, each being marked with either written or symbolic instructions, is provided, which may occupy a card stack location 42 marked on the board 10. Some cards 40 provide remedies for adverse road events.

Method

[0026] In practicing the invention, the following method may be used. The game rules are as follows. As indicated above, each player is provided with a vehicle token 12 and each player is issued a quantity of play money 50, preferably having a play money value of $1000.00. Money 50 is gained and lost as the game progresses. The players each roll dice 60 and the player having the highest roll moves his or her token 12 first, the second highest moves second, and so on, establishing the playing order for the remainder of the game. Then the players each select a road 20 and roll the dice 60 in the established player order to each in turn advance along a selected road 20. Once the player has rolled the dice 60, he or she advances his or her vehicle token 12 along a road 20 selected by the player a number of spaces 22 corresponding to the sum of the number of dots on the upturned faces of the dice 60. Then the player either advances or retreats his or her token 12 a further number of spaces 22 as designated in the instructions for any event shown in the space 22 on which the dice roll initially causes the player token 12 to land. When the player token 12 lands on a space 22 marked with a highway event and related instructions, the player does what the instructions require. One or more of the spaces 22 contain the instruction to take a card 40, and the player landing on such a space takes the top card 40 from the card stack S and does as the card 40 instructs.

[0027] The marked highway events and their consequential instructions preferably include having a flat tire and going back three spaces 22 or using a card giving amnesty, being ticketed for speeding at least ten miles over the speed limit and going back nine spaces 22, being ticketed for speeding ten miles or less over the speed limit and going back four spaces 22, landing on an icy road and going back two spaces 22, entering a construction zone and rolling with only on die for the next player turn, and entering a 65 miles per hour highway zone and advancing two spaces 22. Non-highway events are provided in the form of landing on a spot marked with an image of a heart and advancing ahead of the winning player by one space 22, and accepting the benefits of instructions in all of the spaces 22 having beneficial instructions, and landing on a “lose a turn” space 22 and skipping one player turn. Each time a player crosses the finish line, he or she collects $250.00.

[0028] The instructions marked on cards 40 preferably include amnesty for speeding, a release from jail without penalty card, permission to buy an automobile from another player, a spare tire for cancelling the effect of landing on a flat tire space, which would otherwise require the player to go back two spaces, a gasoline card for cancelling the effect of landing on an “out of gas” card, which would otherwise require the player to go back two spaces. Some cards 40 provide remedies for adverse road conditions specified on spaces 22.

[0029] As indicated above, the game functions around a road travel theme such as that of a certain type of vehicle. Four of the spaces 22a preferably contain game theme markings, such as the image of an automobile. Players who land on a theme space 22a receive a theme card 70 awarding one white point, four of which can be converted into $100.00 in play money. A player landing on all four theme spaces 22a and thus earning four white points doubles these white points to eight so that these points may be sold for $400.00 in play money. The theme spaces and corresponding cards may be differentiated by space colors. A complete collection of theme cards gained from landing on all of the theme spaces may be represented by cards displaying a full set of theme space colors. A player who lands on a full set of theme spaces is awarded 8 white points.

[0030] A player losing all of his or her money is deemed bankrupted, and drops out of the game. The game is played until all but one of the players is bankrupted, and the remaining player is deemed the winner. Should the game be terminated by agreement before this happens, such as with an agreed total game time limit, or when all of the cars have been purchased and all of the cards are taken, the winning player is the one who at that point has the most cars and white points. Every $100 is converted into 2 white points in making this determination.

[0031] In addition, to punctuate the game with exciting verbal exclamation, a player landing on a theme space 22a is required to shout out a word or phrase relating to the theme. If the play does not shout out the word or phrase, he or she cannot buy a car. The roads 20 marked on board 10 are preferably curved in such a way as to suggest the game theme. As indicated above, the preferred theme is that of an automobile, and thus each theme space 22a and associated card is marked with an image of an automobile. For this preferred theme, the shouted phrase is “punch buggy!” and the road 20 markings are curved to define a composite perimeter in the general shape of an automobile.

[0032] While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.

Claims

1. A game board, comprising:

a playing structure having a playing structure upper surface marked with at least one path representing a road, said road being made up of a series of discrete spaces, at least a number of said spaces being marked with representations of driving events, and at least a number of said spaces marked with said representations of driving events being coupled with specific player instructions concerning advancement along said road in view of the nature of the particular driving event;

a plurality of player tokens for marking the positions of players as the players advance along said road.

2. The board game of claim 1, wherein said road is configured as a complete loop such that players can travel around said road repeatedly during a game.

3. The board game of claim 1, wherein said road has an outer perimeter and wherein said outer perimeter defines a recognizable shape of road vehicle for establishing a theme for the game.

4. The board game of claim 3, wherein the road vehicle is an automobile.

5. The board game of claim 1, wherein two said roads are provided, having a composite outer perimeter defining a recognizable road theme for establishing a theme for the game.

6. The board game of claim 5, wherein the theme is that of a road vehicle.

7. The board game of claim 1, wherein said instructions coupled with said spaces include further token movement information.

8. The board game of claim 1, wherein said instructions provide gains and losses in various types of game points, one said type of game points being beneficial to the player and another said type of said game points being detrimental to the player.

9. The board game of claim 1, wherein at least one of said spaces is marked with instructions to draw a card from a stack of cards.

10. The board game of claim 1, additionally comprising a card stack location marking on said upper surface for placement of a stack of game instruction cards.

11. A method of playing a game on a playing structure having a playing structure having a playing structure upper surface marked with at least one path representing a road, said road being made up of a series of discrete spaces, at least a number of said spaces being marked with representations of driving events, and at least a number of said spaces marked with said representations of driving events being coupled with specific player instructions concerning advancement along said road in view of the nature of the particular driving event; a plurality of player tokens for marking the positions of players as the players advance along said road, comprising the steps of:

providing each player with one of said tokens;

issuing each player a quantity of play money;

each player rolling the die;

the player having the highest number of upturned dots on the upturned face of his rolled die receiving a player playing turn of first, the player having the second highest number of upturned dots on the upturned face his rolled die receiving a player playing turn of second, thereby establishing player playing order;

each player selecting a road;

each player rolling the die in the established player order and each in turn advancing his token along the road from the first road space a number of spaces corresponding to the number of dots on the upturned face of the die;

each player observing any road event marked in the space on which his token lands and noting player instructions associated with this road event and then moving his token a further number of spaces as may be designated in said instructions;

each player observing any card drawing instructions marked in the space on which his token lands and where such instructions are present the player taking a card from said card stack and taking action as the card instructs, at least some of said instructions causing player gains and losses in game money;

deeming each playing losing all of his money as bankrupted and out of the game;

and deeming the player remaining after all other players have become bankrupted as the game winner.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said marked highway events and their consequential instructions comprise having a flat tire and going back three spaces or using a card giving amnesty, being ticketed for speeding at least ten miles over the speed limit and going back nine spaces, being ticketed for speeding ten miles or less over the speed limit and going back four spaces, landing on an icy road and going back two spaces, entering a construction zone and rolling with only on die for the next player turn, and entering a 65 miles per hour highway zone and advancing two spaces.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said instructions marked on said cards comprise amnesty for speeding, release from jail, permission to buy an automobile from another player, a spare tire, and providing gasoline.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least two of said spaces are theme spaces containing game theme markings, and wherein a stack of theme cards bearing game them markings and white point award designations are provided, comprising the additional step of:

a player whose token lands on a theme space drawing a theme card which awards one white point and has a certain value in play money.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a player landing on all of the theme spaces earns at least one white point, additionally comprising the steps of doubling the number of white points and selling these white points for a quantity of play money.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein certain of said instructions cause a player to receive at least one red point, additionally comprising the step of placing the player token on a board location marked as being jail and skipping a turn before returning the given space and resuming play.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein certain of said instructions cause a player to receive at least one license point, additionally comprising the step of the player retreating his token a certain number of spaces along the road.

18. The method of claim 14, comprising the additional steps of:

each player landing exclaiming a phrase associated with the game theme at the moment the player token lands on a theme space.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said theme is that of a punch buggy vehicle and wherein each theme space and associated card is marked with an image of an automobile.