DEMOCRACY BASED POLITICAL BOARD GAME
A board game for at least two players that permits players to garner political support from the voting public, create political parties and vie for control of a democratic government, wherein play of the board game includes generating a random number using the random number generator, moving a token a number of spaces around the board corresponding with the random number and acquiring control of a political base space, and to win, a player either forms a political party having a leader which progresses in the leadership race area to lead the government, or is the only player having member currency.
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/695,117 filed Apr. 2, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to board games, and more particularly to an educational and entertaining board game that describes general principles of democracy and politics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPolitical strategy games and presidential election games are known in the art. Many of the prior art political strategy games are directed to specific countries and particular aspects of the political process in specific countries or contexts. For example, some prior art political strategy games are directed to the United States race for the presidency. Others are based on specific government structures having established party systems and set political parties.
One difficulty encountered in using the prior art games as teaching tools is that they are not universally applicable to all democratic processes because they are tailored to a specific country or political process. For example, particular names, such as Liberal or Democrat have different meanings in different countries, and so a game that relies on such labels may inadvertently be biased towards certain political institutions in some regions. Similarly, the choice of colours or icons to represent political parties varies greatly from democracy to democracy, and so the placement of particular colours on the game board may bias the game board towards a particular political institution in some regions. Thus these specifically tailored prior art games are not useful in teaching general and universal principles of democracy outside the country to which they are directed.
Another difficulty encountered in using the prior art games as teaching tools is that they do not describe as part of the game mechanics the formation of political parties. Most prior art games start with the number and nature of the political parties firmly established. For example, in those prior art games tailored for the US, only the two main political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, are depicted. However, in many forms of democracy employed around the world, the formation, merger and dissolution of political parties is a regular occurrence. The prior art board games do not discuss this important aspect of democracy, and so cannot provide a useful basis for teaching such events in the context of a democracy.
There is a need to provide a political board game that teaches the principles of democracy and the formation of political parties in a democratic system in a generally accessible manner, to remove or minimize the disadvantages mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide for a board game that permits players to establish political parties as part of the mechanics of the game.
The invention relates to a board game for at least two players that permits the players to garner political support from the voting public, create political parties and vie for control of a democratic government, comprising:
-
- sets of different player pieces, each player piece of the set for a player being marked or colored the same, each set of player pieces comprising a token and a set of space markers,
- sets of political party pieces, each piece of the set marked or colored the same, each set of political party pieces comprising a leader,
- a member currency representing a number of members,
- a random number generator, and
- a playing board comprising:
- a plurality of spaces defining a circuit around the board, the spaces comprising a plurality of political base spaces which are divided into groups, each of the political base spaces having a cost in member currency for a player to acquire control over it, such control indicated by the placement of a player's space marker upon the political base space, and
- a leadership race area to indicate the political office of each leader relative to other leaders in play,
wherein the control of a group permits the creation of a political party and the placement of a leader on the leadership race area; and
wherein play of the board game includes generating a random number using the random number generator, moving the token a number of spaces around the board corresponding with the random number, and to win, a player either forms a political party having a leader which progresses in the leadership race area to lead the government, or is the only player having member currency.
Other features of the invention will be evident from the disclosure of several embodiments that follows.
The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings in which:
In accordance with the present invention, during play, players create political parties and compete for control of a democratic government and winning by advancing a party leader along a leadership race section of the board to lead the government. Players may also win by being the only player left with member currency, thereby leaving the opposing player “politically bankrupt”. A key object of this invention is increasing the knowledge of each player with regard to democracy and its inner-workings.
An embodiment of the present invention provides a game-board based apparatus for at least two players that permits the players to garner political support from the public, create political parties and vie for control of a democratic government.
The Game Board and Game PiecesThe board game of this invention may be a flat, square or rectangular board used in conjunction with defined spaces defining a circuit around the board. Preferably, this circuit is along the outer periphery of the board. The board may also have an inner leadership area that players advance through or along towards a space representing control of the government. A set of three six sided dice may be used in conjunction with the playing pieces to enable each player move around the board
An embodiment of the present invention uses sets of different player pieces, each player piece of the set for a player being marked or colored the same, each set of player pieces comprising a token and a set of space markers.
The game may also have sets of political party pieces, each piece of the set marked or colored the same, each set of political party pieces comprising candidates and a leader.
The game may have a member currency representing a number of members.
Referring now to
The game board 1 may also include democracy pillar spaces 4 (rule of law & human right protection, free press and free elections, economic freedom, and civic capital & social support networks); spaces for a subset of cards 5 that includes: civic society, the media, the economy, branches of power, and judicial process outcome; and spaces related to the judicial system (enter judicial process, judicial process, prison term), and additional spaces 6 that include: nonviolent protest, volunteer, reward for the defense of democratic principles, and new ideas.
In addition to the path of movement 2 defined by a circuit around the board, the board 1 includes a leadership race area 7. Said leadership race area 7 comprises four series of sequential office spaces 8 arranged linearly in tracks, the tracks extending inwardly from the edge of the playing board towards the center of the playing board.
Referring now to
The game apparatus also include a set of player pieces comprising a token (
“The public” controls the elements required for the game. One of the players may be elected as Public Representative. The Public Representative may keep his own member currency (
“The public” may be the source of member currency (
“The public” regulates the different “transactions” that take place during the game. At any time a player may give up control of candidates, leaders, and spaces. “The public” will at any time receive back leaders (
Players form political parties based on establishing control over platform, registration and convention spaces and support institutions represented as democracy pillars (rule of law & human right protection, free press and free elections, economic freedom, and civic capital & social support networks). In order to form political parties players commit members to establish control over the platform, registration and convention spaces all three areas of a particular group 3.
Once a player has established control of a group 3, the player selects a set of political party pieces (
Once control of a group is established, the player may establish a candidate (
Establishing a candidate on each controlled political base space in a group permits the placement of a leader (
An additional benefit of controlling spaces and developing political parties may be gaining members from opponents landing on said spaces. The number of members gained may be increased by establishing candidates (
The creation of a political party permits the placement of leadership candidates (
Leadership candidates (
Civil Society, The Media, Economy, and Branches of Powers spaces 6 give the opportunity to draw a corresponding card. Player then enacts instructions on the card.
Players may enter a “Judicial Process” when landing on “Enter Judicial Process”, as instructed by a card, or as a result of throwing doubles three times in a row. When necessary, a player may increase the number of members by giving up control of spaces back to the public. Likewise, players may also return candidates or the party leader to the Public receiving in return a number of members. Spaces under their control may be traded between players.
Judicial ProcessA player enters a judicial process by: (a) landing on space designated as “enter judicial process”; (b) drawing a specific card; or (c) throwing doubles three times in a row.
If a player does not fulfill the criteria set out above, and in the course of the play reaches the “judicial process” space, the player is just visiting and the player continues the game normally.
A player that enters a judicial process takes a card from the “judicial process outcome” pile and follows instructions. While going through a judicial process a player may establish party candidates and a leader, and receive member currency from other players, and from the public.
When sent to serve “prison term”, a player misses the next turn. After missing a turn, the player then throws the dice and continues the game but loses an amount of currency members. This penalty does not apply if throwing doubles.
A player may not establish candidates (
The primary goal of controlling political based spaces 3 is placing and advancing a party leader (
A method of playing a game in accordance with the present invention involves: creating political parties and vying for control of a democratic government and winning by advancing a party leader along a leadership race section 7 of the board 1 to lead the government, based on game events. In order to stay in the game players need enough members to fulfill obligations and achieve the strategic goals of the game.
Movement around the Board
An object of the game is creating political parties and vying for control of a democratic government and winning by advancing a party leader (
In order to form political parties, players commit members to establish control over all three areas, or political base spaces, of a particular group 3. Control of the group may be indicated by the placement of a player's space marker (
The control of a group permits the creation of a political party. A player may select a set of political party pieces (
The creation of a political party permits the placement of leadership candidates (
If a player does not have enough members, represented by member currency (
Beginning from a start space, which may be marked “Go”, players move tokens (
Players may roll a set of three six sided dice (
Prior to starting the game, players may place civil society, the media, economy, branches of powers, and judicial process outcome cards (
“The Public” controls the rest of the elements required for the game. One of the players may be elected as Public Representative. The Public Representative keeps his own member currency (
When necessary, a player may increase the number of members by returning back to “the public” controlled spaces represented by specific space markers (
Players landing on civil society, the media, economy, and branches of powers spaces 5 draw a card from the corresponding subset of cards (
A player landing on both “nonviolent protest” and “new ideas” spaces 6 throws the dice and gain or lose member currency (
Following the rules of the game, a player may be entitled to take control of any given particular space where that player's token (
Each time a token lands on or passes over “go” the player receives member currency (
When a player lands on a space that is not controlled by another player; the player has the option of controlling said space by tendering member currency (
When a player declines taking control of a space, a vote takes places and “the public” presents offers to all players the opportunity to tender member currency (
The player who bids the highest obtains control of said space. All votes are completed by players writing down a specified number of member currencies and then showing them in unison. Any player, including the one who initially declined the option of taking control may participate in the vote. Players may offer any amount of member currency.
The more democracy pillar spaces 4 a player controls the more members currency (
Space markers (
Party candidates (
A party may only have one representation on the board 1, in one of the groups 3. However, a player may found more than one party. The group of two or more parties controlled by a player has the potential of becoming a coalition. A player may only establish one leader (
A coalition may only be established when participating parties have previously gone through the process of dedicating member currency (
When a player does not have enough members, represented by member currency (
A player who does not have enough member currency (
In addition to advancing a party leader along the leadership race section 7 of the board 1 to lead the government, a player may also win the game when said player is the only one having member currency (
Another embodiment of the present invention may allow for variations in the rules of play.
The game is specially configured to help players learn and perceive the unity and interconnection of the fundamental general principles and institutions necessary for the function of a democratic society. It reflects general aspects of democracy and politics and provides an overview of the main factors that interact in a democratic society, presenting concepts related to civil society, economy, the media, the branches of power, and typical outcomes of judicial processes in democratic societies. The game may be suitable for inclusion in teaching students in classroom environments. The game may be used as a teaching tool or played as entertainment by individuals with various levels of knowledge and skills. It encourages players to further inquire about political, economic, and societal concepts.
The game rewards attitudes compatible with democratic principles and values and penalizes those amply perceived as anti-democratic. It promotes concepts related to civic and political participation in the democratic process and promotes principles of tolerance, solidarity, creativity, justice, and public good interests among others.
A workbook comprising concepts and questions for stimulating thought and furthering learning about civic participation in the political democratic process of modern societies may also be provided.
Further, it will be noted that the game play of the present invention may be implemented as a computer game. Said computer game may be played on a general-purpose computer. As an example, the computer programming code may be embodied in computer readable media capable of configuring a computer to implement some of all of the game play methodology described above. In one embodiment, a human may play against a computer, which will play the game in substitute for one or more other human players, as generally known in the art.
The computer game software may include executable code stored in a memory for execution by a processor. A memory may include any static, transient or dynamic memory or storage medium, including without limitation read-only memory (ROM) or programmable ROM, random access registers memory (RAM), transient storage in registers or electrical, magnetic, quantum, optical or electronic storage media. A process includes any device or set of devices, howsoever embodied, whether distributed or operating in a single location, that is designed to or has the effect of carrying out a set of instructions, but excludes an individual or person.
The computer game may also be configured to be played by multiple human players. Said players may use computers communicating via a computerized communications network, as generally known in the art.
The board game may be implemented as a system. A system implemented in accordance with the present invention may comprise a computer system having memory and a processor to execute the code. The system may also comprise a server and client structure, where the players are directing play of the game from one or more client terminals, including a wireless handheld device or cell phone, and the method is performed on a server.
While there have been described herein the principles of the invention, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this depiction is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention. Consequently, it is intended by the appended claims, to cover all modifications of the invention, which fall within the true spirit, and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A board game for at least two players that permits players to garner political support from the voting public, create political parties and vie for control of a democratic government, comprising:
- a. sets of different player pieces, each player piece of the set for a player being marked or colored the same, each set of player pieces comprising a token and a set of space markers,
- b. sets of political party pieces, each piece of the set marked or colored the same, each set of political party pieces comprising a leader,
- c. a member currency representing a number of members,
- d. a random number generator, and
- e. a playing board comprising: i. a plurality of spaces defining a circuit around the board, the spaces comprising a plurality of political base spaces which are divided into groups, each of the political base spaces having a cost in member currency for a player to acquire control over it, such control indicated by the placement of a player's space marker upon the political base space, and ii. a leadership race area to indicate the political office of each leader relative to other leaders in play,
- wherein the control of a group permits the creation of a political party and the placement of a leader on the leadership race area; and
- wherein play of the board game includes generating a random number using the random number generator, moving a token a number of spaces around the board corresponding with the random number and acquiring control of a political base space, and to win, a player either forms a political party having a leader which progresses in the leadership race area to lead the government, or is the only player having member currency.
2. The board game of claim 1, wherein the leadership race area comprises at least two series of sequential office spaces meeting at a single space connoting control of the government.
3. The board game of claim 2, wherein the leadership race comprises four series of sequential office spaces arranged linearly in tracks, the tracks extending inwardly from the edge of the playing board towards the center of the playing board.
4. The board game of claim 1, wherein the sets of political party pieces further comprise a plurality of party control markers, and the formation of a political party comprises the placement of a party control marker on each of the political base spaces in a group controlled by a player.
5. The board game of claim, wherein the sets of political party pieces further comprise plurality of candidate pieces, and formation of a political party further comprises the placement of a candidate piece on each of the political base spaces having party control markers thereon in the group controlled by the player.
6. The board game of claim 1, wherein the random number generator comprises a set of three six sided dice, and one of the six sided dice comprises at least one non-numeric side.
7. A method for playing a game that permits players to garner political support from the voting public, create political parties and vie for control of a democratic government, comprising:
- a. providing sets of different player pieces, each player piece of the set for a player being marked or colored the same, each set of player pieces comprising a token and a set of space markers,
- b. providing sets of political party pieces, each piece of the set marked or colored the same, each set of political party pieces comprising a leader,
- c. providing a member currency representing a number of members,
- d. providing a playing area comprising: i. a plurality of spaces defining a circuit around the playing area, the spaces comprising a plurality of political base spaces which are divided into groups, each of the political base spaces having a cost in member currency for a player to acquire control over it, such control indicated by the placement of a player's space marker upon the political base space, and ii. a leadership race area to indicate the political office of each leader relative to other leaders in play,
- e. generating a random number using a random number generator,
- f. moving a token a number of spaces along the circuit of spaces corresponding with the random number,
- g. acquiring control of a political base space as indicated by the marking of the political base space with a space marker,
- wherein the control of a group by a player permits the creation of a political party and the placement of a leader on the leadership race area; and
- wherein to win, the player either forms a political party having a leader which progresses in the leadership race area to lead the government, or is the only player having member currency.
8. The method of claim, wherein the leadership race area comprises at least two series of sequential office spaces meeting at a single space connoting control of the government.
9. The method of claim, wherein the leadership race comprises four series of sequential office spaces arranged linearly in tracks, the tracks extending inwardly from the edge of the playing area towards the center of the playing area.
10. The method of claim, wherein the sets of political party pieces further comprise a plurality of party control markers, and the formation of a political party comprises the placement of a party control marker on each of the political base spaces in a group controlled by a player.
11. The board game of claim, wherein the sets of political party pieces further comprise plurality of candidate pieces, and formation of a political party further comprises the placement of a candidate piece on each of the political base spaces having party control markers thereon in the group controlled by the player.
12. The method of claim, wherein the playing area comprises a game board.
13. The method of claim, wherein the playing area, sets of different player pieces, sets of political party pieces, and the member currency are encoded comprises a game board.
14. The method of claim, further comprising a computer player that acts as a player in opposition to the players.
15. A memory having recorded thereon statements and instructions for execution by a computer to carry out the method of claim.
16. A method comprising transmitting over a communications medium computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system programmed thereby to perform the method of claim.
17. A method comprising storing on a memory computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system programmed thereby to perform the method of claim.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 23, 2008
Publication Date: Jan 22, 2009
Inventor: Orlando David Garcia (Toronto)
Application Number: 12/235,949
International Classification: A63F 3/00 (20060101);