Board Game Apparatus and Method for Playing
A game apparatus and method of playing including a playing surface having an impassible outer barrier and several inner barriers. The game playing surface includes a plurality of sequential first areas and a second area wherein gamers shoot their game pieces in turn through the sequential areas until achieving a killer status whereby they can begin to eliminate the other players. The last killer on the board is declared the winner.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/044,989 filed Apr. 15, 2008, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention generally relates to recreational games.
BACKGROUNDRecreational games come in all shapes, sizes and methods of play. Some games and their accompanying methods of play are not quickly fixed and commercialized, but rather evolve over time through years of play. Some games have their origin or are adapted as street games, for example stick ball, which is similar to baseball adapted to be played in urban streets and local neighborhoods.
One example of a street game which was popular in New York neighborhoods was called “Skully” or “Skelsey.” Markers were located or identified on the street or playgrounds and players used game pieces to navigate around an unbounded and open (uninterrupted) course through sequential moves by successive players. Difficulties in play were experienced due to the unbounded and open course, for example, game pieces could easily exit the course and were subject to the inherent inconsistencies of the cement and asphalt surfaces and outdoor play. Skilled players would have significant advantage as the open course could be easily navigated and opposing players defeated. Attempts at domesticating or creating an indoor version of this game have suffered from disadvantages of having a similar, although smaller, unbounded and open course format and the method of play not having been modified to adequately adapt it to an indoor, table-top game.
The present table game and method of play improves on the disadvantages of prior games, including the Skully or Skelsey street games, through significant changes and improvements to the physical playing area and method of play.
SUMMARYThe inventive game includes a game board which, in one example, is a large table top game board suitable as a stand alone table or as part of a multi-function gaming table with games such as poker, backgammon and other popular games.
In one example of the game board, the board includes a planar playing surface having a raised outer barrier extending upward from the playing surface and around the periphery of the game board to assist in keeping the game pieces from leaving the table. The game board further has several sequentially-identified first areas positioned near the outer barrier and separated from one another. A second area is positioned inside of the several first areas and defines a region of significance in the play of the game.
In another example of the game board, a plurality of raised inner barriers are strategically positioned about the game board surface and serve multi-purposes including making it more difficult to navigate a game piece between the sequential first areas and serving as bumpers for ricochet shots to advance your piece or hit other game pieces.
In another example of the game board, one or more safe areas are included where gamers can enter to temporarily protect or shield their game pieces from other players.
In another example of the game board, a two-sided game piece is used having a second side with indicia signifying that the player has satisfied certain game conditions and has become a “killer” enabling the player to begin eliminating other players from the game.
In one method of use, the game board and method of play begins with at least two game pieces being positioned behind a starting line. In turn, players shoot or flick their game pieces into the sequential first areas positioned around the game board until their game piece has moved into and out of all of the sequential first areas in order. In another example, the game pieces must then move back through the sequential first areas in reverse order. In one example, the players attempt to avoid their game piece from stopping in the second area, known as “Skelsey”, to avoid losing at least one turn.
In one example of game play, on completion of moving the game piece into and out of the first sequential areas and into the second area, the player turns the game piece over revealing indicia signifying that they are now a “killer” and are able to begin eliminating the other players from the game. In one example, a killer eliminates another player by shooting the game piece and striking another player's game piece which is not located in a safe or protected area. The killer that is successful in eliminating all of the other players is declared the winner.
Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
An apparatus and method of playing a board game is disclosed and examples are shown in
In one example shown in
Game board 10 further preferably includes a raised outer barrier 40 which rises from playing surface 14 by a height 46 and extends about periphery 20 in a continuous manner. In one example, outer barrier 40 is a rigid barrier extending perpendicular from playing surface 14 and is made from the same material as playing surface 14. In alternate examples, outer barrier 40 could extend at an angle to playing surface 14 and be made from alternate resilient or softer material, like elastomers, and serve as bumpers similar to billiard tables. In another example, outer barrier 40 could include gaps or removable portions (not shown) as an increased challenge in the game. In an alternate example, a hand-held electronic or video game, outer barrier 40 serves as barrier which a simulated game piece cannot pass through simulating a raised physical barrier.
As shown in the example in
In one example of game board 10, a limit line 54 may be used. Limit line 54 substantially parallels outer barrier 40 and is positioned a short distance inward toward center 18. Limit line 54 provides a buffer wherein if a game piece comes to rest too close to outer barrier 40 to make an uninterfered clean shot, a player may move the game piece away from the outer barrier the distance the limit line 54 is from the outer barrier 40. The distance of limit line 54 from outer barrier 40 may be the same about playing surface 14 or may differ to increase or decrease the level of difficulty of play.
In one example of board game 10, several sequential first areas 60 are included on playing surface 14. In the example, nine square boxes 64 are separated from one another and are positioned about playing surface 14 as generally shown. Bach square 64 of first areas 60 includes sequential indicia, for example numbers 1-8, as shown. In the example, first area boxes 64 numbered 1-8 are positioned adjacent to outer barrier 40 and are numbered so as to require the game pieces to travel across the board to increase the challenge of play.
In a preferred example, each successive sequential first area is positioned across either or both of a length line 72 and a width line 76 as generally shown in
As shown in
As also shown in
In one example, game board 10 further includes a safe area 120 (two shown) including raised barriers 124 and indicia 128 on playing surface 14 including a circle marked “killers lair”. As shown in
Game board 10 and the method of play further include at least two or more game pieces 140 that are moveable about playing surface 14 through manual force by player participants. As best seen in
Referring to
In operation, or in an example of a method of playing a game on game table 10, at least two game pieces 140 are positioned behind start line 110 with the second 146 and “killer” indicia 150 face down indicating to other players that the game piece is not in a condition or killer status to eliminate other game pieces 140 from the game. In turn, players shoot or flick in a single motion their game piece 140 with the object of landing or having the game piece come to rest in each of the sequential first areas 60, and preferably inside squares 64 (marked in
Players continue in turn until their game piece has moved to the last sequential first area or square 64 (number 8) and the inner portion 82 of second area (marked 9). At this point, in one example to increase the length of the game, the game piece must then be navigated through all of the first sequential areas in reverse order. On completion of this game condition, a player then attempts to have their game piece achieve “killer” status. In one example, a player has to shoot the game piece 140 into each skelsey portion 90 and the first area square at the center of second area (marked with a number 9 in
In one example, once a game piece has achieved killer status, that player can eliminate other game pieces from the game by shooting and contacting other game pieces that are not in a safe area 120 or other protected region or game condition. Similarly, in one example of a method of playing, second area inner portion 82 (square 9) positioned at the center of second area 80, may be used as a killer's lair and serve as a temporary safe area for killers which are being pursued for elimination by other killers. In the example shown in
As disclosed above, other features and play of the game include the limit line 54 which, in the example shown, is adjacent the outer barrier 40. If a game piece 140 comes to rest in contact with outer barrier 40, or is too close to make an uninterfered shot, the game piece may be repositioned from the barrier to the limit line 54.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.
Claims
1. A game comprising:
- a game board playing surface having a periphery;
- at least two individual game pieces moveable on the playing surface;
- an impassible outer barrier adjacent to and encircling the periphery preventing the game pieces from moving beyond the periphery;
- a plurality of sequential first areas positioned about the playing surface in spaced relation to one another;
- a second area positioned on the playing surface separate from the sequential first areas;
- wherein players in turn advance their individual game pieces through the sequential first areas while avoiding the second area until all of the sequential first areas are achieved whereafter such a game piece is moved into the second area and becomes a killer game piece which is capable of eliminating other game pieces from the game until the last surviving game piece is declared the winner.
2. The game of claim 1 wherein each sequential first area is positioned across at least one of a board width line and a board length line from a proceeding and a succeeding sequential first area.
3. The game of claim 2 wherein the first areas are positioned adjacent the periphery.
4. The game of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of impassible inner barriers positioned about the playing surface.
5. The game of claim 4 wherein at least one of the plurality of inner barriers is positioned in a direct linear path between at least two of the sequential first areas to obstruct linear movement between the at least two sequential first areas.
6. The game of claim 4 wherein the inner barriers and the outer barrier are raised and extend above the playing surface.
7. The game of claim 1 further comprises at least one safe area positioned within the raised outer barrier on the playing surface wherein a game piece is temporarily shielded from attack.
8. The game of claim 7 wherein the safe area further comprises a killers lair area within the safe area providing a separate safety area for game pieces that have become killer game pieces.
9. The game of claim 1 wherein the second area further comprises an inner portion including a last sequential area following game piece movement through the sequential first areas, the inner portion surrounded by an outer Skelsey portion.
10. The game of claim 9 wherein the outer Skelsey portion is positioned along a direct linear path between each sequential first area.
11. The game of claim 1 further comprising a limit line positioned inside of and substantially parallel to the impassible outer barrier.
12. A self-contained table-top, board game comprising:
- a rigid game board playing surface having a periphery;
- a continuous raised outer barrier extending upward from the playing surface and encircling the periphery;
- a limit line positioned inside of and substantially parallel to the raised outer barrier;
- a plurality of sequential first areas positioned about the playing surface in spaced relation to one another, each sequential first area is positioned across at least one of a board width line and a board length line from a proceeding and a succeeding sequential first area;
- a second area positioned on the playing surface separate from the sequential first areas, the second area having an inner portion and an outer portion, the second area positioned along a direct linear path between each sequential first area;
- a plurality of raised inner barriers extending upward from the playing surface, at least one inner barrier positioned along a direct linear path between two sequential first areas;
- at least one safe are positioned on the playing surface inside the outer barrier; and
- at least two individual game pieces movable on the playing surface, wherein players in turn advance their individual game pieces through the sequential first areas while avoiding the second area until all of the sequential first areas are achieved whereafter such a game piece is moved into the second area and becomes a killer game piece which is capable of eliminating other game pieces from the game until the last surviving game piece is declared the winner.
13. A method of playing a game having a playing surface and a periphery, an impassible outer barrier encircling the periphery, a plurality of sequential first areas positioned on the playing surface inside the outer barrier, a second area positioned on the playing surface separate from the first areas, and at least two game pieces each piece having a first side and an opposing second side having killer indicia visible thereon, the method of playing the board game comprising the steps of:
- positioning the game pieces with the first side visible in a start area positioned within the impassible outer barrier;
- shooting each game piece in turn to come to rest in each of the sequential first areas while avoiding the game piece from coming to rest in the second area;
- converting the game piece into a killer game piece following satisfaction of movement through the sequential first areas; and
- eliminating all other game pieces until only one game piece remains resulting in declaration of a winner.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of moving each game piece to each of the sequential first areas further comprising the step of navigating around at least one impassible inner barrier positioned along a direct linear path between successive sequential first areas.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein within the step of converting the game piece into a killer game piece comprises the step of shooting the game piece to come to rest in the second area and turning over the game piece to the second side revealing killer indicia.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second area comprises an inner area and an outer skelsey area, the method of converting the game piece to a killer further comprising first shooting the game piece to come to rest in the outer skelsey portion and on a consecutive shot, the game piece coming to rest in the inner portion of the second area.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of eliminating all other game pieces comprises the step of shooting the killer game piece into contact with another game piece that is not positioned in a safe zone.
18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of repositioning a game piece coming to rest in contact with the outer barrier to a limit line positioned inside the raised outer barrier to provide a shot without initial interference by the outer barrier.
19. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of selectively shooting the game piece into a safety zone positioned within the outer barrier to avoid elimination by a killer game piece.
20. A game comprising:
- means for providing a game board having a playing surface;
- means for positioning at least two game pieces with a first side visible in a start area positioned within a raised outer barrier around a periphery of the playing surface;
- means for shooting each game piece in turn to come to rest in each of a plurality of sequential first areas separated from one another while avoiding the game piece from coming to rest in a second area;
- means for converting the game piece into a killer game piece following satisfaction of movement through the sequential first areas; and
- means for eliminating ah other game pieces until only one game piece remains resulting in declaration of a winner.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 25, 2009
Publication Date: Oct 15, 2009
Inventor: George R. Perry (Orchard Lake, MI)
Application Number: 12/410,929
International Classification: A63F 3/00 (20060101);