Board game having a lake theme

Abstract

A game includes: a playing board; a plurality of tokens representing identities of players playing the game; a plurality of title deed cards; a plurality of game pieces; a source of scrip; a plurality of cards each one of which bears indicia related to one of a penalty, an award and a direction; and at least two elements operable by the players in turn for randomly determining movement of the tokens upon the board. The playing board includes a plurality of successive, contiguous spaces defining a continuous path about a periphery of the board. First second and third sets of the spaces identify properties, such as lake areas, dams and boat dealerships, that may be purchased with scrip by a player landing upon the respective space. Title deeds bear indicia indicating a rental payment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to games and, more specifically, to a board game having a lake theme.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A wide variety of games have a common characteristic, namely, competition among two or more players using a single set of rules. Some of these games, specifically board games, involve movement of pieces upon a board onto, in, over or though spaces that relate to each player's status and/or position.

[0005] Many proposed board games have attempted to simulate the accumulation of wealth through a variety of mechanisms. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,026,082 to Darrow discloses a game simulating the world of real estate in which players move game pieces around a board and attempt to accumulate wealth and property at the expense of opposing players. Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,319 discloses a game simulating the development and rezoning of real estate and accumulation of wealth involving game pieces moveable upon a board. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,153 simulates the accumulation and development of businesses and their employees.

[0006] Several others have proposed particular designs for playing boards and/or game pieces used in games, including U.S. Design Pat. No. 262,125 (“POT LUCK” game board), U.S. Pat. No. 295,987 (“BLACK GOLD” game board), U.S. Pat. No. 340,266 (chessmen), U.S. Pat. No. 352,332 (game pieces), U.S. Pat. No. 380,781 (“ASTRONOPOLY” game board), and U.S. Pat. No. 386,798 (“UNITED STATES POSTAL MONOPOLY GAME”), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,157 (chess-like game with military objects as game pieces) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,332 (chess-like game with irregularly shaped board).

[0007] Still others have proposed board games with various goals and/or themes, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,957 (purchasing sports teams), U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,071 (accumulating wealth and travel across the U.S.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,544 (raising self “out of ghetto”), U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,881 (accumulating wealth according to two economic paradigms), U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,942 (accumulating stocks, commodities or bonds), U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,022 (buy, sell and trade sports performers), U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,156 (accumulating speculatively priced properties), U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,230 (accumulating income and maximizing baseball player quality), U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,133 (acquiring African nations), U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,188 (attempting to get family members home), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,473 (completing construction project), U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,915 (purchasing U.S. states, highways, airports and telephone companies), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,650 (“add-on” game for use with MONOPOLY™ game).

[0008] Other proposals for board games have been disclosed in British Patent Specification 694,880 (get to a home space across irregularly routed path of spaces), British Patent Specification 915,550 (experiencing foreign travel), and UK Application GB 2 055 299 A (playing board with holes for score markers).

[0009] Although the above proposals have no doubt supplied much entertainment, none of the above games, boards and/or game pieces have successfully simulated the ups and downs of life at a lake. Moreover, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a board game having a lake theme solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention is a game having a lake theme. A game includes: a playing board; a plurality of tokens representing identities of players playing the game; a plurality of title deed cards; a plurality of game pieces; a source of scrip; a plurality of cards each one of which bears indicia related to one of a penalty, an award and a direction; and at least two elements operable by the players in turn for randomly determining movement of the tokens upon the board.

[0011] The playing board includes a plurality of successive, contiguous spaces defining a continuous path about a periphery of the board. First, second and third sets of the spaces identify properties, such as lake areas, dams and boat dealerships, that may be purchased with scrip by a player landing upon the respective space. Each one of the title deeds is associated with a respective one of the lake areas, dams and boat dealerships, and bears indicia indicating a rental payment payable to a player acquiring the property, and payable by a player subsequently landing upon the space identifying the property. Each of the game pieces may be purchased with scrip and placed upon an acquired lake area, dam or boat in order to increase the rental payment. Preferably, a plurality of the deeds bear indicia relating to lakes. Preferably, a plurality of the spaces bear indicia related to lakes. Preferably, a plurality of the cards bear indicia related to lakes.

[0012] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a board game simulating the ups and downs of life at a lake.

[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a board game where by the ups and downs of life at a lake may be simulated by acquiring lake properties, dams and boat dealerships.

[0014] It is a further object of the invention is to provide a board game whereby the ups and downs of life may be simulated by erection of game pieces on spaces identifying the lake areas, dams and boat dealerships.

[0015] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0016] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1A is a plan view of a game board having a lake theme according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 1B is a plan view of portion B of the game board of FIG. 1A.

[0019] FIG. 1C is a plan view of portion C of the game board of FIG. 1A.

[0020] FIG. 1D is a plan view of portion D of the game board of FIG. 1A.

[0021] FIG. 1D is a plan view of portion D of the game board of FIG. 1A.

[0022] FIG. 1F is a plan view of portion F of the game board of FIG. 1A.

[0023] FIG. 1E is a plan view of portion E of the game board of FIG. 1A

[0024] FIG. 1G is a plan view of portion G of the game board of FIG. 1A.

[0025] FIG. 1H is a plan view of portion H of the game board of FIG. 1A.

[0026] FIG. 1I is a plan view of portion I of the game board of FIG. 1A.

[0027] FIG. 2A is a profile view of a game piece resembling a boat propellar.

[0028] FIG. 2B is a profile view of a game piece resembling an anchor.

[0029] FIG. 2C is a profile view of a game piece resembling a speedboat.

[0030] FIG. 2D is a plan view of a game piece resembling a Lake Cabin.

[0031] FIG. 2E is a plan view of a game piece resembling a Marina building.

[0032] FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, 3H and 3I are plan views of a plurality of individual Makin a Wake and Sunken Chest cards.

[0033] FIG. 4A is a plan view of title deed cards to the Bear Lake and Jump Off Joe Lake properties.

[0034] FIG. 4B is a plan view of title deed cards to the Sun Runner Boat Dealership and Medical Lake properties.

[0035] FIG. 4C is a plan view of title deed cards to the Clear Lake and Waitts Lake properties.

[0036] FIG. 4D is a plan view of title deed cards to the Liberty Lake and Spokane Falls Dam properties.

[0037] FIG. 4E is a plan view of title deed cards to the Marshal Lake and Rock Lake properties.

[0038] FIG. 4F is a plan view of title deed cards to the SeaRay Boat Dealership and Deer Lake properties.

[0039] FIG. 4G is a plan view of title deed cards to the Silver Lake and Loon Lake properties.

[0040] FIG. 4H is a plan view of title deed cards to the Badger Lake and Sprague Lake properties.

[0041] FIG. 4I is a plan view of title deed cards to the Thomson Lake and Bayliner Boat Dealership properties.

[0042] FIG. 4J is a plan view of title deed cards to the Lake Cocolala and Spirit Lake properties.

[0043] FIG. 4K is a plan view of title deed cards to the Grand Coulee Dam and Long Lake properties.

[0044] FIG. 4L is a plan view of title deed cards to the Lake Sachine and Priest Lake properties.

[0045] FIG. 4M is a plan view of title deed cards to the Lake Roosevelt and Donzi Boat Dealership properties.

[0046] FIG. 4N is a plan view of title deed cards to the Lake Pend Oreille and Lake Couer D'Alene properties.

[0047] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] The present invention is a board game intended to simulate the life at a lake. Much of the interest in the game lies in experiencing the ups and downs of life on, at, adjacent, or near a lake, and includes the acts of acquiring, selling, mortgaging and improving properties, such as lake areas, dams and boat Dealerships associated with lakes. While the preferred embodiment set forth below involves particular properties, such as lake areas, boat dealerships on, adjacent, or relating to various lakes, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention is not limited to only lake areas, boat dealerships and dams. Other types of lake-related properties are within the scope of the invention.

[0049] As best illustrated in FIG. 1A, the game includes a generally square-shaped game board 10 including a total of eight portions B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I positioned about a periphery of the board. Each of the portions B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I includes five delineated, sequential spaces. As seen in FIG. 1A, each of portions B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I are contiguous with two other portions B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, thus forming a continuous path of delineated spaces adjacent a periphery of board 10.

[0050] As best illustrated in FIGS. 2A through 2C, tokens 20 represent the identities of the players. Tokens 20 are moved across the path according to a throw of dice by the token's owner. For example, if a total of seven results from the owner's dice throw, that player moves his or her token seven spaces along the path. While only three exemplary tokens 20 are depicted, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to such examples. Other examples of configurations include those in the shape of a captain's wheel, a life preserver, a boat trailer, a cigarette boat, a cabin cruiser, a drag boat, a cruise liner, a jet ski, a ski boat, a fishing boat, an open bow boat, a day cruiser, and a sailboat. Moreover, the number of players is not limited to three. While any reasonable number of players may play, a preferred number of players is four to nine.

[0051] Portion B includes a GO space 100, which serves as a starting point for the players on the board's continuous path. Portion B further includes two spaces corresponding to lake areas, namely Bear Lake 110 and Jump Off Joe Lake 130. Sunken Chest space 120, and Waterfront Taxes Due space 140 make up the remainder of portion B.

[0052] Lake areas in the game are organized into groups. Each of the lake areas in a given group has a common color that identifies their association as a group. For example, a purple bar on each of Bear Lake 110 and Jump Off Joe Lake 130 may be used to identify them as belonging to one group of lake areas.

[0053] Portion C includes three lake areas, namely, Medical Lake 160, Clear Lake 180, and Waitts Lake 190. A bluish-green bar may be used to identify these areas as making up another associated group of lake areas. Portion C further includes Sun Runner Boat Dealership space 160 and Makin A Wake space 170.

[0054] Portion D includes an IN JAIL/JUST VISITING space 200, which has a IN JAIL portion 204 and a JUST VISITING portion 205. Portion D also includes three spaces corresponding to another group of associated lake areas, namely, Liberty Lake 210, Marshal Lake 230, and Rock Lake 240. Orangish-red bars are preferably included on lake areas 210, 230, 240 to indicate their association. Spokane Falls Dam space 220 completes the amount of spaces in portion D.

[0055] Portion E includes three spaces corresponding to yet another group of associated lake areas, namely, Deer Lake 260, Silver Lake 280 and Loon Lake 290. Bars colored orange may be used to indicate their association as a group. Searay Dealership space 250 and Sunken Chest space 270 complete the number of spaces in portion D.

[0056] Portion F includes a FREE BOAT LAUNCH space 300 and three spaces corresponding to yet another group of associated lake areas, Badger Lake 310, Sprague Lake 330, and Thomson Lake 340, each of which preferably has a red bar thereon to indicate their group association. Makin A Wake space 320 completes portion F.

[0057] Portion G includes three spaces to form yet another group of associated lake areas, namely, Lake Cocolala 360, Spirit Lake 370, and Long Lake 390. They preferably have yellow bars indicating their association. A Bayliner space 350 and a Grand Coulee Dam space 380 complete portion G.

[0058] Portion H includes GO TO JAIL space 400. Lake Sachine 410, Priest Lake 420, Lake Roosevelt 440 make up still another group of associated lake areas. They preferably have colored bars, in this case green, to indicate their association. Sunken Chest space 430 completes portion H.

[0059] Finally, portion I includes two spaces corresponding to a last group of associated lake areas, namely, Lake Pend Oreille 470 and Lake Couer D'Alene 490. An association between them as a group is preferably indicated by dark blue bars thereon. Portion I is completed by Donzi Dealership space 450, Makin A Wake space 460 and Boat Tab Renewal space 480.

[0060] The game is played with scrip money, preferably in denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, and $500. At the beginning of the game, the players should be given equal amounts of scrip, which in a preferred embodiment of the game is $1,500. If the number of players exceeds the amount of preferred $1,500 multiples of scrip in the bank, then each share of scrip may be accordingly decreased and a credit against the decreased amount be maintained for the player against the Bank.

[0061] The game also utilizes a plurality of Makin A Wake cards 500, 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, 540, 545, 550, 555, 560, 565, 570, 575, as individually shown in FIGS. 3A through 3D, that are stacked face down and piled at space 30, as illustrated in FIG. 1A. Similarly, a plurality of Sunken Chest cards 600, 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630, 635, 640, 645, 650, 655, 660, 665, 670, 675, individually illustrated in FIGS. 3E through 3I, are stacked face down and piled at space 40, again as shown in FIG. 1A. The game also includes a predetermined amount of lake cabins 50 and marinas 60, as shown in FIGS. 2D and 2E, respectively, for placement upon lake areas.

[0062] The game may be played by two or more players, one of whom serves as Banker. The Banker handles all receipt and payment of scrip on behalf of the Bank. The Bank is the original owner of all of the lake areas, boat dealerships, and dams, as described above.

[0063] Play of the game is organized into turns for each player. On each player's turn, he or she operates one or more elements for randomly determining movement of the tokens over the path. Preferably, two such elements are dice. Based upon the amount shown on the element(s), such as dice, the player moves his or her token the indicated number of spaces along the continuous path in a clockwise direction. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to the use of dice, but that any chance-determining element may be used. For example, a spinner may be used to determine the number of spaces advanced by a player's token during his or her turn.

[0064] If, as a result of a player's throw of the dice, his or her token lands upon one of the lake areas, boat dealerships, or dams, he or she may purchase it from the Bank if it is not already owned. The price for the lake area, boat dealership or dam in question is preferably displayed on the associated space. Exemplary prices for the lake areas may be found in Table I, while exemplary prices for each of boat dealerships and dams may be found in Table II. As seen in Tables I and II, prices for the lake areas vary greatly, just as they do around lakes in reality. 1 TABLE I Preferred Prices for Lake Areas LAKE AREA PRICE ($) Bear Lake 110 60 Jump Off Joe Lake 130 60 Medical Lake 160 100 Clear Lake 180 100 Waitts Lake 190 120 Liberty Lake 210 140 Marshal Lake 230 140 Rock Lake 240 160 Deer Lake 260 180 Silver Lake 280 180 Loon Lake 290 200 Badger Lake 310 220 Sprague Lake 330 220 Thomson Lake 340 240 Lake Cocolala 360 260 Spirit Lake 370 260 Long Lake 390 280 Lake Sachine 410 300 Priest Lake 420 300 Lake Roosevelt 440 320 Lake Pend Oreille 470 350 Lake Couer D'Alene 490 400

[0065] 2 TABLE II Preferred Prices for Boat Dealerships and Dams BOAT DEALERSHIP OR DAM PRICE ($) Sun Runner Dealership, 150 200 Spokane Falls Dam, 220 150 Searay Dealership, 250 200 Bayliner Dealership, 350 200 Grand Coulee Dam, 380 150 Donzi Dealership, 450 200

[0066] As best shown in FIGS. 4A through 4N, one title deed card 113, 133, 163, 183, 193, 213, 233, 243, 263, 283, 293, 313, 333, 343, 363, 373, 393, 413, 423, 443, 473, 493 is associated with each one lake area. Similarly, a title deed card 153, 253, 353, 453, 223, 383, is associated with each individual boat dealership 150, 250, 350, 450 and each individual dam 220, 380, respectively. After payment of scrip money to the Bank, the player purchasing a property receives the associated title deed card as proof of ownership. Preferably, each of the title deed cards associated with a lake area has a colored bar displayed thereon to match the corresponding lake area on board 10. If the player landing upon an unowned property does not wish to purchase it, the Banker, upon preagreed rules, may auction off the property to the highest bidder among the remaining players. The winning bidder receives the associated title deed card after receipt of payment to the Bank. Once a property has been sold, the associated title deed card is displayed face side up by that player in order to indicate that it is not mortgaged.

[0067] Preferably, each of the boat dealership spaces 150, 250, 350, 450, and title deed cards 153, 253, 353, 453 associated therewith includes a picture 154, 254, 354, 454, respectively, that is illustrative of life at a lake. For example, each of pictures 154, 254, 354, 454 can be an ornamental design for a boat, such as one commonly used on a lake. Similarly, each of the dam spaces 220, 380, and title deed cards 223, 383, includes a picture 224, 384 illustrative of life at a lake. For example, each of pictures 224, 384 can be an ornamental design of a waterfall plunging over a dam at the edge of a lake.

[0068] If the property landed upon is already owned by another player, the player landing, or “trespassing”, upon the property must pay a rental fee to the owner if the owner demands the same in a timely manner such as, for example, before the next player rolls the dice. In the case of boat dealerships or dams, the rental fee will depend upon how many boat dealerships or dams are owned by the owner of the landed upon space at the time of the trespass. If the player's token is trespassing upon a dam space, the player must throw the dice and pay a multiple of the dice throw in scrip to the owner of the dam as a rental payment. The multiple used depends upon how many dams are owned by the player owning the dam in question, and is indicated on the title deed to the dam. For example, in a preferred embodiment the player whose token lands upon a dam must pay four times the amount resulting from the dice throw if only one dam is owned, and ten times the amount if two Dams are owned.

[0069] Similarly, if a player's token lands upon a boat dealership that is owned by another player, the player trespassing must also pay the owner a rental fee based upon the number of boat dealerships owned by the player whose boat dealership was landed upon. However, the rental fee is not dependent upon a throw of the dice, but is instead displayed on the associated title deed card. In a preferred embodiment, the trespasser must pay $25 if the owner owns only a single boat dealership, $50 if the owner owns two dealerships, $100 if the owner owns three dealerships and $200 if the other player owns all the dealerships.

[0070] If a player's token lands upon a lake area that is already owned by another player, the rental fee due will depend upon whether all the lake areas in the group are commonly owned and whether the lake area landed upon has been improved, i.e., whether lake cabin(s) and/or a marina have been erected upon the lake area landed upon. The particular rental fee may be read from the information displayed on the associated title deed card. If one player owns all the lake areas in a given group, the rental payment is twice the amount displayed on the associated title deed card if the lake area is not improved, i.e., no lake cabins or marinas have been erected thereon. For example, the rental payment for trespassing upon the Thomson Lake area 340 (and the other lake areas 310, 330 in the group are not commonly owned) in an unimproved condition is only $20, as best shown in FIG. 4I. The rental payment for trespassing on an unimproved Thomson Lake Area 340 increases to $40 if the owner also happens to own both the other lake areas 310, 330 associated therewith. The rent for trespassing increases with the number of lake cabins and marinas built upon the trespassed upon lake area. For example, with reference to FIG. 4I, rent for one lake cabin on the Thomson Lake area 340 costs $100, rent for three lake cabins costs $750, and rent for one marina costs $1,100.

[0071] As described above, the Lake Areas are organized into groups. If a player acquires all the Lake Areas within an associated group, the player is allowed to improve one or more of his or her lake areas in the associated group on his or her turn by erecting lake cabins and/or marinas. The player may erect up to four lake cabins on each lake area in the group. Once four lake cabins have been erected on each lake area in the group, the player may then erect up to one marina each on one or more of the lake areas in the associated group. When a marina is erected, the lake cabins must be returned to the Bank. Thus, the rental payment for trespassing on a lake area with a marina does not include any additional rent for the four lake cabins previously, i.e., the rental payment is not cumulative for all improvements.

[0072] The costs for erecting lake cabins and marinas is displayed on the title deed card associated with the lake area that is being improved. For example, with reference to FIG. 4I, the erection of each lake cabin on Lake Thomson 340 costs $150, while the marina costs an additional $150. As in purchases of lake areas from the Bank, the costs for improving a lake area are payable to the Bank. Because the number of lake cabins and marinas is limited, they may not be available from the Bank at the time a player wishes to buy them. If so, that player must wait until another player sells or returns one or more of them back to the Bank, a subject that is described in greater detail below.

[0073] A player improving his or her lake areas in an associated group must do so in an even manner upon the lake areas within that group. For example, while a player may erect one house at a time upon any one of the lake areas in an associated group, he or she may not erect, for example, two houses on one lake area and no houses on another lake area within the same group, or for example, three houses on one lake area and one or no houses on another lake area within the same group.

[0074] The board includes several other lake-related spaces, spaces which do not have corresponding title deed cards and which may not be owned. These spaces include Waterfront Taxes Due space 140, IN JAIL/JUST VISITING space 200, FREE BOAT LAUNCH 300, Boat Tab Renewal space 480, and GO space 100. Waterfront Taxes Due space 140 represents the relatively higher amount of taxes paid by a person owning a lot adjacent a lake shore. If a player's token lands upon Waterfront Taxes Due space 140, that player must pay the Bank his or her choice of 10% of his or her scrip on hand, or $200. Boat Tab Renewal space 480 represents a boat owner's requirement to renew his or her boat trailer's registration, a process evidenced by a new tab. If a player's token lands upon Boat Tab Renewal space 480, that player must pay the Bank $75 in scrip. Preferably, Waterfront Taxes Due space 140 includes a picture 144 illustrative of home on a lakefront that is subject to, of course, waterfront taxes. Desirably, Boat Tab Renewal space 480 includes a picture 484 illustrative of a boat trailer and money. FREE BOAT LAUNCH 300 space represents a boat launch open to the public without any fees. FREE BOAT LAUNCH space 300 indicates that no rental is due for any player landing his or her token upon the space. Similarly, FREE BOAT LAUNCH space 300 also includes a picture 340, which in this case, is preferably illustrative of a boat launch site.

[0075] If a player's token lands upon GO TO JAIL space 400, that player must place his or her token in an IN JAIL portion 204 of IN JAIL/JUST VISITING space 200. A player whose token is in the IN JAIL portion 204 must remain in that space until a dice throw on his or her next turn (or his third turn) is a “double”. If no such double is thrown by the player's third consecutive turn, he or she must pay a $50 fine to the Bank to be freed. A “double” is a dice throw in which each die results in the same number. For example, one type of “double” includes the situation when a “3” is displayed by each of two dice. Once freed from the IN JAIL portion 204, the player moves his or her token to the JUST VISITING portion 205 of the space 200.

[0076] When a player lands upon the IN JAIL/JUST VISITING space 200 in the ordinary course of play, the player places his or her token in a JUST VISITING portion 205 of the IN JAIL/JUST VISITING space 200 to indicate that he or she is “just visiting”, and is not subject to imprisonment as described above. A player's token is also placed in the IN JAIL portion 204 if he or she rolls doubles thrice in succession during a turn or draws a “GO TO JAIL”-type Sunken Chest or Makin A Wake card, each of which is described in greater detail below.

[0077] At the beginning of the game, players start moving their tokens from GO space 100. As the continuous path wraps around and reaches GO space 100, players will inevitably either land upon, or pass over, GO space 100, thus completing a full circuit of the path. Because the path is continuous, there is no point along the board at which play terminates or a player wins. Instead, the termination of play is determined by other facets of the game, the details of which are discussed below. If a player's token lands upon, or passes over, GO space 100, that player collects $200 from the Bank.

[0078] The Makin A Wake spaces 170, 320, 460 and Sunken Chest spaces 120, 270, 430 represent some of the ups and downs of life on a lake. Metaphorically speaking, a wake from a boat may sometimes tip a boat over, while at other times lift a boat high up in the air. Similarly, a chest found at the bottom of a lake may hold a surprise or two for a person opening it up.

[0079] If a player's token lands upon one of the Makin A Wake spaces 170, 320, 460 or Sunken Chest spaces 120, 270, 430, he or she must draw a card from the appropriate one of two piles stacked face down at the respective spaces 30, 40, as illustrated in FIG. 1A. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3D, each of the Makin A Wake cards 500, 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, 540, 545, 550, 555, 560, 565, 570, 575 has indicia thereon announcing one of a benefit, a penalty and an instruction to move the drawing player's token 20 to a particular space on the board 10. Similarly, as best shown in FIGS. 3E through 3I, each Sunken Chest Card 600, 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630, 635, 640, 645, 650, 655, 660, 665, 670, 675 has indicia thereon announcing one of a benefit, a penalty and an instruction to move the drawing player's token 20 to a particular space on the board 10. Preferably, a plurality of the Makin A Wake cards 500, 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, 540, 545, 550, 555, 560, 565, 570, 575 and/or Sunken Chest cards 600, 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630, 635, 640, 645, 650, 655, 660, 665, 670, 675 have lake-related indicia associated with a penalty, benefit or instruction. After following the instructions indicated by the indicia printed thereon, the drawing player returns the card face down to a bottom of the appropriate pile at the respective space 30, 40.

[0080] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1B, 1C, 1E, 1F, 1H and 1I, in a preferred embodiment, each of the Makin A Wake spaces 170, 320, 460, and Sunken Chest spaces 120, 270, 430 includes a picture 174, 324, 464 and 124, 274, 434, respectively, illustrative of life at a lake. For example, the Sunken Chest picture 124, 274, 434 can be an ornamental illustration of a treasure chest, and the Makin A Wake picture 174, 324, 464 can be a scene of a boat traveling fast enough to create a wake in the water. Moreover, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3I, each Makin A Wake card 500, 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, 540, 545, 550, 555, 560, 565, 570, 575 and Sunken Chest card 600, 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630, 635, 640, 645, 650, 655, 660, 665, 670, 675 will either grant a particular benefit, assign a particular penalty, or instruct the drawing player to move his or her token to a particular space, and a picture 501, 506, 511, 516, 521, 526, 531, 536, 541, 546, 551, 556, 561, 566, 571, 576, 601, 606, 611, 616, 621, 626, 631, 636, 641, 646, 651, 656, 661, 666, 671, 676 illustrative of the benefit, penalty or instruction is also born thereon. More preferably, they are illustrative of the associated benefit, penalty or instruction. More preferably, they are illustrative of a benefit or penalty associated with life at a lake. Descriptions for preferred pictures 501, 506, 511, 516, 521, 526, 531, 536, 541, 546, 551, 556, 561, 566, 571, 576, 601, 606, 611, 616, 621, 626, 631, 636, 641, 646, 651, 656, 661, 666, 671, 676 may be found in Tables III through VI. Obviously, the invention scope includes any and all illustrations, pictures, designs, schematics, etc. that represent life on a lake. 3 TABLE III Makin A Wake cards Description of Benefit or Penalty Description of Picture “Skier down: go back Illustration of a ski boat three spaces.” speeding away from a water skier flailing in the water, 501. “Ticket for no life Illustration of a judge preserver: pay $15.” holding a gavel while sitting at a desk between two flags, 506. “Set sail to Liberty Lake. Illustration of a sailboat If you pass GO, collect $200.” sailing on a lake, 511. “Take a walk on the lakeshore: Illustration of a boardwalk advance token to beautiful Lake extending around a marina, Couer D'Alene.” 516. “Skier down: go back three Illustration of a ski boat spaces.” speeding away from a water skier flailing in the water, 521. “You overpay interest on your Illustration of a first hand boat loan: bank pays you $50.” handing over paper money to a second hand, 531. “Water ski to Thomson Lake. If Illustration of a person you pass GO, collect $200.” water skiing on a lake, 526. “Pull up anchor and race to GO: Illustration of a boat collect $200.” speeding across a lake, 536. “Go to Jail. Do not pass GO. Illustration of a Coast Guard Do not collect $200.” boat with a flasher towing a smaller boat, 541. “Make a wake to Sun Runner ™ Illustration of a Sun Runner Dealership.” boat, 551. “Get out of Jail freel!“ Illustration of birds peacefully flying across a sunlit sky, 546. “If Dealership is unowned, you Illustration of a boat on a may buy it from the Bank.” lake, 556.

[0081] 4 TABLE IV Additional Makin A Wake cards Description of Benefit or Penalty Description of Picture “Win Fishing Derby: collect Illustration of a person on a $150.” lakeshore holding up a fish larger than himself, 561. “Set sail to the nearest Dam. Illustration of a Dam, 571. If unowned, you may buy it from the Bank. If owned, throw the dice and pay the owner ten times the amount shown.” “Set sail to the nearest Illustration of a boat, 566. Dealership and pay the owner twice the rental to which he or she is entitled.” “Set sail for the nearest Illustration of a boat, 576 Dealership and pay the owner twice what he or she is entitled.”

[0082] 5 TABLE V Sunken Chest Cards Benefit or Penalty Description of Picture “Sell vintage Cris Craft ™, Illustration of one hand collect $200.” handing paper money to another hand, 606. “Your boat broke its prop: pay Illustration of a boat on a $40.” lake that has just lost its prop to the bottom of the lake, 601. “You have won second place at Illustration of a boat Lake Pend Oreille Poker Run: speeding across a lake, 611. collect $100.” “Buy new camping gear for Illustration of campsite, weekend at Lake Roosevelt: pay volleyball court and $150.” treeline adjacent a lakeshore, 616.

[0083] 6 TABLE VI Additional Sunken Chest Cards Benefit or Penalty Description of Picture “Complete boating safety course Illustration of a person and enjoy insurance discount: wearing a graduation-style collect $20.” cap and gown in front of a boat on a trailer, 626. “Restored ski boat wins 1 st Illustration of a first Prize in boat show: collect $50 place ribbon and a boat, from each player.” 631. “You won the Long Lake Poker Illustration of a boat run: collect $25 from every speeding across a lake, 636. player.” “Take a cruise to GO: collect Illustration of a cruise $200.” ship sailing on a lake, 641. “Boat needs repairs: pay $200.” Illustration of a outboard boat motor and a pipe wrench, 651. “Go to Jail. Do not pass GO. Illustration of a Coast Do not collect $200.” Guard boat with a flasher towing a smaller boat, 656. “Overcharged for boat repair: Illustration of a person collect $25.” smiling and receiving paper money from another person, 661. “Win fishing bet by catching Illustration of a person on prize steelhead in Lewiston: a lakeshore holding a fish collect $100 from the player on larger than himself and of a your right.” hand handing over paper money, 671. “Sell old boat trailer: collect Illustration of a boat $45.” trailer attached to a truck, 676.

[0084] A roll of doubles allows a player, after completing any actions associated with the space their token is moved to, to roll the dice again without having to wait for a next turn. In this fashion, a player may roll doubles twice or thrice during a single turn. If, however, a player rolls doubles three times in succession during a turn, they must to jail and place their token in the IN JAIL portion 204 of the IN JAIL/JUST VISITING space 200.

[0085] The object of the game is to force all the other players to quit the game because of their inability to meet their financial obligations that develop as the game proceeds. Because each player's token will from time to time land upon a lake area, boat dealership or dams owned by another player, the trespassing player will incur rental charges. Moreover, a player's token will inevitably land upon other spaces exacting some sort of financial penalty. If unable to pay his or her obligations in scrip on hand, the player must dispose of his or her property, i.e., lake areas, boat dealerships, dams, lake cabins, and marinas. Lake areas, boat dealerships and dams may be given to the creditor in satisfaction of the rental payment, sold to any other player, auctioned to the highest bidder, or mortgaged to the Bank in order to raise enough scrip to satisfy the rental payment. Lake cabins and marinas may not be sold to other players, but may be sold back to the Bank at half the purchase price listed on the associated title deed card.

[0086] As mentioned above, lake areas, boat dealerships and dams may be mortgaged to the Bank for a mortgage amount listed on the associated title deed card. Once one of the above is mortgaged, the mortgaging player must turn the title deed card face down to indicate that it is mortgaged. If the player wishes to later pay off the mortgage, he must pay back to the Bank the amount of the mortgage principal, plus, according to preferred rules of the game, ten percent interest. If a mortgaged property is transferred to another player without first lifting the mortgage, the new owner must pay ten percent interest immediately upon transfer. In order to lift the mortgage, the receiving player must pay the mortgage principal and an additional ten percent interest. According to preferred rules, no player may mortgage a Lake Area without first selling back to the Bank all of his or her Lake Cabins and Marinas erected upon that Lake Area. As a result of mortgaging a property, no rental payment may be demanded for it if another player trespasses upon that property.

[0087] If the trespassing player is unable to meet his or her obligations by selling, transferring or mortgaging lake areas, boat dealerships, dams, lake cabins and marinas, he or she is declared Bankrupt and must quit the game. All of the Bankrupt player's scrip must be given to his or her creditor. All of the Bankrupt player's Lake cabins and marinas must be sold back to the Bank at half price and the scrip given to his or her creditor. All of the Bankrupt player's remaining lake areas, boat dealerships and dams must then be sold by the Bank to the highest bidder(s), or if no bid on a property is made, given to his or her creditor. The scrip resultant from the sale goes to the creditor. If the creditor receives a mortgaged property, the creditor must immediately pay a ten percent interest charge on the mortgage to the Bank as described above, and may optionally pay off the mortgage principal at that time. If the principal is not paid at that time, an additional ten percent interest will be due at the time the principal is actually paid.

[0088] Play of the game continues until all but one of the players is Bankrupt. Thus, the remaining player is declared the winner.

[0089] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A board game having a lake theme for play by at least two players, said board game comprising:

a board having a path of successive spaces, each of at least some of said spaces bearing indicia identifying a unique property associated with the respective space; and

a plurality of title deeds each one of which is associated with a respective one of said properties identifying spaces, wherein a plurality of said successive spaces bear indicia related to lakes.

2. The board game according to claim 1, wherein:

said property identifying spaces are organized into groups, each of said property identifying spaces in a given one of said groups having a same coloring thereon identifying said given one group.

3. The board game according to claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of said property identifying spaces bear indicia related to lakes.

4. The board game according to claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of said title deeds bear indicia thereon related to lakes.

5. The board game according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one stack of cards each one of which bears indicia thereon related to one of a penalty, an award and an instruction, wherein some of said successive spaces bear indicia related to said stack of cards.

6. The board game according to claim 5, further comprising:

a source of scrip for purchasing the properties identified by said property identifying spaces, wherein said indicia related to said penalty on said cards directs a player drawing the respective indicia bearing card to return back to said source an amount of said scrip initially given the player from said source.

7. The board game according to claim 5, further comprising:

a source of scrip for purchasing said properties identified by said property identifying spaces, wherein said indicia related to said award on said cards directs a player drawing the respective indicia bearing card to receive from said source an amount of said scrip.

8. The board game according to claim 5, further comprising:

at least two tokens each one of which represents an individual player's movement over said path, wherein said indicia related to said instruction on said cards direct a player drawing the respective indicia-bearing card to move a predetermined number of spaces in a predetermined direction along said path.

9. The board game according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least two tokens each one of which represents an individual player's movement over said path.

10. The board game according to claim 9, wherein:

each of said properties may be acquired by a player; and

each of said properties has an associated rental payment payable to the acquiring player by another player whose token moves onto the space identifying the property acquired.

11. The board game according to claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of game pieces placeable upon said property identifying spaces for increasing the rental payment associated with the respective property identifying space.

12. The board according to claim 1, wherein said path is continuous.

13. The board game according to claim 1, wherein:

each one of said property identifying spaces bears indicia relating to a purchase price for the respective property identified.

14. The board game according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least two tokens each one of which represents an individual player's movement over said path; and

at least one element operable by the players in sequence for randomly determining a number of spaces to be traversed per turn by said tokens.

15. The board game according to claim 1, wherein:

a first portion of said property identifying spaces bear indicia related to lakes;

a second portion of said property identifying spaces bear indicia related to dams; and

a third portion of said property identifying spaces bear indicia related to boats.

16. The board game according to claim 1, further comprising:

a source of scrip for purchasing said properties.

17. A board game having a lake theme, said board game comprising:

a) at least two tokens for representing identities of individual players;

b) a board having a path of successive delineated spaces for travel of said tokens thereupon, said spaces including:

i) a first set of spaces each one of which identifies an associated lake property,

ii) a second set of spaces each one of which identifies an associated dam, and

iii) a third set of spaces each one of which identifies an associated boat dealership; and

c) a plurality of title deeds each one of which is associated with a respective one of said lake properties, dams and boat dealerships.

18. The board game according to claim 17, wherein:

each of said title deeds displays a rental payment payable to a player acquiring the associated lake property, dam or boat dealership.

19. The board game according to claim 18, further comprising:

a plurality of game pieces for placing upon said spaces identifying one of said lake properties, dams and boat dealerships, wherein rental payments associated with said spaces identifying one of said lake properties, dams and boat dealerships is dependent upon to an amount of said game pieces placed upon said lake property, dam or boat dealership identifying space, said rental payment being displayed by the associated title deed.

20. A board game having a lake theme for play by a plurality of players, said board game comprising:

a board having an endless path for being progressively and periodically traversed in turn by each player during play of said game, said path comprising a plurality of serially connected playing spaces each of which has indicia thereon for individually identifying the respective space, the indicia upon a plurality of said playing spaces being related to lakes;

certain of said playing spaces being designated by said indicia for defining distinguishable groups of predetermined numbers of said playing spaces, said certain playing spaces being acquirable by a player first occupying a respective one of said certain playing spaces;

a plurality of tokens each one of which is associated with an individual player in traversing said course on said board;

at least one element operable by the players in sequence for randomly determining a number of said spaces to be traversed per turn by said individual player-associated playing piece;

a plurality of game pieces for placement upon one of said spaces of said groups to indicate improvement of a value associated with said one space; and

a plurality of deed cards each one of which is associated with a respective one of said spaces.