Board Game

Abstract

The present invention provides a game for two or more players, and a method for playing the game. The game includes a game board having a plurality of spaces defining a continuous course of travel between a start space and a finish space. Each player starts on the starting space and each player takes turns using a chance device, preferably a spinner, to randomly select which one of eight arcade-style games to play to generate a number that is the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel. The winner is the first player whose playing piece reaches the finish space.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a board game that consists of a game board having a plurality of spaces that include a start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, all of which define a continuous course of travel. One or more different arcade-style games having an element of chance are used to generate what number of spaces each player moves on the game board along the course of travel, and the identity of the arcade-style game to play is determined by a chance device, such as a spinner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of board games has been known for decades. Examples of known board games includes those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 748,626; U.S. Pat. No. 1,509,312; U.S. Pat. No. 2,026,082; U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,335; U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,601; U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,771; and U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0061035 A1.

U.S. Pat. No. 748,626; U.S. Pat. No. 1,509,312; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,026,082 all disclose landlord-type board games in which the object is to obtain as much wealth or money as possible. The board consists of a number of spaces around which the players move their respective pieces. A number of are designated as real estate areas or locations of differing value that can be purchased and/or traded amongst the players. The players may also purchase houses and hotel that can be “built” on their real estate areas, thereby increasing the value of the area. The move around the spaces according to the throw of the die

U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,335 discloses a board game for use by a plurality of players having a chance device. The game board consists of a playing area defined by a path along which playing pieces are advanced by the players. The chance device is preferably in the form of a wishing well or like structure that can receive play coins deposited therein. Each player is provided with a supply of coins and as a player advances around the board the player must follow the instructions printed on the game board on that space, which may include depositing one or more coins in the wishing well.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,601 discloses a board game consisting of a board having a continuous path of blank and/or marked spaces from a “Start” space to a “Finish” space. The players use a dice or a spinner to determine the number of spaces they move along the path, with the winner being the player that reaches the “Finish” space first. During play, the players must follow the instructions on the spaces they land on.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,771 discloses an educational board game that includes a game board having a plurality of spaces, including a pair of win spaces, a start space, and a number of medial spaces divided between a pair of tracks. Each of the tracks extends from the start space to one of the win spaces. Movement of a player's token along the tracks is determined by a combination of chance elements such as cards, dice, and spinners.

The board game disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0061035 A1 includes a timer for determining the length of time for a player's turn. Players move around a path of spaces on the board according to a pair of dice, collect tokens and try to avoid being landed upon or landing upon a mummy token. The length of a player's turn is determined by the timing device.

While these patents disclose board games having a course of travel of interconnected spaces around which the players must move according to the roll of a dice or the spin of a spinner, none of these games further incorporate one or more arcade-style games that a player must play in order to determine how many spaces that player can move along the course of travel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a game for two or more players comprising:

• • a. a game board comprising a plurality of spaces marked on a surface of the game board, the spaces including a start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, wherein the plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between the start space and the finish space;
  • b. a unique playing piece for each of the players, the playing piece indicating the current location on the spaces of the player;
  • c. a plurality of arcade-style games, each arcade-style game comprising an element of chance that, when played by one of the players, results in a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel; and
  • d. a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style games.

In a preferred embodiment, the game includes eight arcade-style games and the chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotable around a center point and, when the pointer comes to rest after being spun by a player is adapted to indicate one of eight different indicators that each correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.

In a further aspect, the present invention also provides a method of playing a game between two or more players, the method comprising the steps of:

• • a. providing a game board comprising a plurality of spaces marked on a surface of the game board, the spaces including a start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, wherein the plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between the start space and the finish space,
  • b. providing a unique playing piece for each of the players, the playing piece indicating the current location on the spaces of the player;
  • c. starting each playing piece on the starting space;
  • d. taking turns using a chance device to randomly indicate which one of a plurality of arcade-style games to play;
  • e. playing the indicated arcade-style game to generate a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel; and
  • f. moving the player's playing piece along the course of travel by the number generated by the arcade-style game until a winner is determined when one of the playing pieces reaches the finish space.

In a preferred embodiment, eight arcade-style games are provided, and wherein the chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotable around a center point and, when the pointer comes to rest after being spun by a player is adapted to indicate one of eight different indicators that each correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.

In yet a further aspect, the present invention also provides a kit for playing a game between two or more players, the kit comprising:

• • a. a game board comprising a plurality of spaces marked on a surface of the game board, the spaces including a start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, wherein the plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between the start space and the finish space;
  • b. a unique playing piece for each of the players, the playing piece indicating the current location on the spaces of the player;
  • c. a plurality of arcade-style games, each arcade-style game comprising an element of chance that, when played by one of the players, results in a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel;
  • d. a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style games; and
  • e. instructions to play the game, wherein the instruction comprise the following steps:
    • i. starting each playing piece on the starting space;
    • ii. taking turns using the chance device to randomly indicate which one of the arcade-style games to play;
    • iii. playing the indicated arcade-style game to generate a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel; and
    • iv. moving the player's playing piece along the course of travel by the number generated by the arcade-style game until a winner is determined when one of the playing pieces reaches the finish space.

In a preferred embodiment, the kit includes eight arcade-style games and wherein the chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotable around a center point and, when the pointer comes to rest after being spun by a player is adapted to indicate one of eight different indicators that each correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to the same parts in the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a game board that may be used to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of playing pieces that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a chance device, in the form of a spinner, that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a bottled “Marble Counter” that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of one of the arcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a game for two or more players. The game includes:

• • a. a game board;
  • b. a unique playing piece for each of the players;
  • c. a plurality of arcade-style games; and
  • d. a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style games.

The Game Board

FIG. 1 illustrates game board 10 that may be used to play the game. Game board 10 includes a plurality of continuous spaces 12 marked on a top surface 14 of the game board 10. The spaces 12 include a start space 16, a finish space 18, and a plurality of medial spaces 20. The continuous spaces 12 define a continuous course of travel between the start space 16 and the finish space 18. Preferably, the playing game board 10 consists of one relatively large rectangular board, or it may be made of four (8½ inch by 11 inch) pieces of board material that are attached together in such a way that they can be folded up together to be a final measurement of 8½ inches by 11 inches. Where the game board 10 is made of four such pieces of board material, the game board is capable of being unfolded to lay open on a flat surface and having a measurement of 17 inches by 22 inches, at which time the game board 10 is ready for playing the game. Of course, it will be understood that the particular dimensions of the game board 10 is not important for playing the game as described herein as long as the game board 10 is large enough to permit the continuous spaces 12 to define a continuous course of travel between the start space 16 and the finish space 18.

With reference to the specific game board 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, the game board 10 includes on its top surface 14 a set of continuously interconnected spaces 12 that define a continuous path or course of travel between the start space 16 and the finish space 18. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, there are 112 interconnected spaces 12, including the start space 16 and the finish space 18. The spaces 12 are each in the shape of a square with approximately 1 inch sides. The spaces 12 are arranged on the top surface 14 with an initial outer loop 22 that is adjacent three sides 24, 26 and 28, respectively, of the game board 10. Adjacent the bottom side 30 of the game board 10, the continuous spaces 12 loop inward to form two inner loops 32 and 34 that eventually end at the finish space 18, which is located near the start space 16.

In a preferred embodiment, the finish space 18 has a removable, separate laminated square on it also marked “finish”. This removable “finish square” can be moved and placed on any of the other spaces 12 on the game board 10 in order to shorten the continuous path or course of travel that the players must travel before finishing the game. This is described in greater detail below in the section “Playing the Game”.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the game board 10 includes an area 36 between the loop of spaces adjacent side 26 and the two inner loops 32 and 34 where the title of the game 38 (for example, THE GAME OF “FUN-NESS”), together with descriptive phrases 40 (for example, THE ARCADE GAME THAT ANYONE CAN WIN! And FOR 2-12 PLAYERS, AGES 4-104), may be provided. A picture of the game components 42 may also be provided in the area 36.

As noted above, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the game board 10 includes a total of 112 spaces. There are the start space 16; the finish space 18; 35 blank spaces 44; 16 spaces with the words “GO AGAIN” on them, some with an arrow pointed in the forward direction 46 and some with an mow pointed in the backward direction 48 away from the finish space 18; 5 spaces that have “+1” on them 50; 5 spaces that have “ +2” on them 52; 5 spaces that have “ +3” on them 54; 6 spaces that have a “X2” on them 56; 4 spaces that have a “X3” on them 58; and 15 spaces that have a picture of the “Marble Counter” 60 on them. There are also a total of 19 spaces that have the instructions “Trade Places” on them 62. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 1, the 19 “Trade Places” spaces 62 can include different variations, such as “Trade Places with any Player”, “Trade Places with the Player on your Right” and/or “Trade Places with the Player on your Left”.

The Playing Pieces

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the playing pieces 64 that may be used to play the game. The game is played using a set of unique playing pieces 64 for each of the players playing the game. The playing pieces 64 are used to indicate the current location on the spaces 12 of the players. In this embodiment, there are a total of 12 playing pieces 64, one for each of the 12 total players that may play the game. Each of the illustrated playing pieces 64 are about 3 cm in height, having an upstanding cylindrical portion 66 with a diameter of about 6 mm The bottom end of cylindrical portion 66 is attached to a flat round base 68 of about 2 cm in diameter. The playing pieces 64 are all of different colours, such as, red, blue green, orange, yellow, black, white, turquoise, purple, mauve, brown and pink so that each playing piece 64 can be identified as belonging to a particular player. It will be understood, however, that the playing pieces 64 can be of any size and shape and be made of any suitable material as long as there are sufficiently different playing pieces to be identified for each player playing the game. Also, preferably the size of the playing pieces 64 is not so large as to make it difficult for the playing pieces to occupy a space 12.

The Chance Device

The preferred embodiment of the game also includes a chance device that is used to randomly indicate one of the arcade-style games that must be played (described in greater detail below). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the chance device is in the form of a spinner 70 that includes a flat board 72 having a circle 74 thereon. The circle 74 is divided into eight generally triangular pie-shaped sections 76, each having a different indicator 78. The indicator 78 may be a shape, such as a rectangle 80 with different colors (for example, red, blue, green, black, purple, yellow, silver, etc.), or may be different shapes, such as a circle with jagged edges 82, or a happy face symbol 84. Attached at the centre 86 of the circle 74 is a pointer 88 which can be spun by hand around the center point 86 and has a blunt end 90 and a pointed end 92. It will be understood that the spinner 70 can be of any size or made of any suitable material as long as its main components are present: the circle 74, the pie-shaped sections 76 with their respective different indicators 78, and the spinning pointer 88. The pointer 88 is spun by hand by the players and eventually stops spinning with the pointed end 92 resting on one of the sections 76.

The Bottled “Marble Counter”

FIG. 4 illustrates the bottled “Marble Counter” 94 that may be used with one embodiment of the game. The “Marble Counter” 94 consists of a bottle portion 96 having generally transparent walls 98. The bottle portion 96 has an approximately 9 cm diameter circular base 100 and tapers to an approximately 3 cm diameter circular top 102 and stands approximately 19 cm tall. The base 100 has been divided into six 6 equal pie-shaped sections 104. Each section 104 has been marked with a single different digit 106 starting with “1” and continuing consecutively with “2”, “3”, “4”, “5” and “6”. Each section 104 has been marked with lines 108 and protruding up from the base 100 at each division line 108 is a metal obstacle 110 (such as a small screw) to separate each section 104 from the other. A ball 112 (referred to as the “Marble”) is contained in the interior of the bottle portion 96 and the ball 112 is adapted to come to rest in one of the sections 104. It will be understood that the bottled “Marble Counter” 94 can be of any size as long as its main components are present: six numbered pie-shaped sections 104 and ball 112, are present.

During play, the bottled “Marble Counter” 94 is shaken by one of the players and placed flat on the playing table allowing the ball 112 to come to rest in one of the numbered pie-shaped sections 104.

The Arcade-style Games

Illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 12 are a series of arcade-style games that may be used to play the game. Generally, the game can be played with a plurality of arcade-style games, but preferably between 2 and 8, and most preferably there are 8 such arcade-style games. More than 8 arcade-style games may be provided, and the players decide beforehand which 8 of the arcade-style games provided will be used for a particular game. The number of arcade-style games generally matches the number of pie-shaped sections 76 in the spinner 70 shown in FIG. 3. For example, spinner 70 has 8 pie-shaped sections 76 and thus 8 arcade-style games will be used, but if there were 6 pie-shaped sections, then 6 arcade-style games are used. Each arcade-style game is preferably different from the other arcade-style games and comprising an element of chance that, when played by one of the players, results in a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece 64 along the continuous spaces 12 that define the course of travel on the game board 10.

The arcade-style games are referred to as “Arcadables” and each game has a removable coloured tag on it matching the different indicators 78 of the spinner 70. It will be understood that the number and type of arcade-style games useful with the present invention can vary, and that other types of arcade-style games can be provided so that they are interchangeable with the original arcade-style games so that only a total of eight arcade-style games are used to play a game.

FIG. 5 illustrates the first of the arcade-style games that may be used to play the game. This first arcade-style game may be referred to as “Arcadable #1”, and is depicted with reference number 120. Arcade-style game 120 includes a solid base 122 that is approximately 10 cm square. Attached to the base 122 and extending upwardly is a supporting pole 124 that is approximately 23 cm tall. About two-thirds of the way up the supporting pole 124 is rotatably attached a circular disc 126 that is approximately 9½ cm in diameter. The disc 126 is rotatably attached around pivot point 128 in such a way that the disc 126 can be spun by hand. The disc 126 is divided into eight equal sections 130, each section 130 being divided from the adjacent sections by dividing lines 132. At the periphery 134 of the disc 126 and aligned with each of the lines 132 is a protruding member 136, for example, a finishing nail. Above the disc 126 is a white plastic pointer 138 that protrudes from the supporting pole 124 and is disposed such that it touches the protruding members 136 when the disc 126 is spun. Each section 130 is marked with a different number 140 ranging from “1” to “8”. There is a removable marker 142 on the front of the base 122 near the front edge 144 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70.

The Arcadable #1 game is played by the player spinning the disc 126, for example by placing an index finger on one of the protruding members 136 and pulling downward. The disc 126 will spin and then, by friction, will slow down and eventually stop with the white plastic pointer 138 lying between two of the protruding members 136 denoting the number that is marked in that particular section 130.

“ARCADABLE” #2

FIG. 6 illustrates the second of the arcade-style games that may be used to play the game. This second arcade-style game may be referred to as “Arcadable #2”, and is depicted with reference number 150. This arcade-style game has a base 152 that has four holes 154 disposed in the base 152. The holes 154 are sized to allow a suitable ball 156, such as a 2½ cm diameter Styrofoam ball, to come to rest in the holes 154. There is a solid back wall 156 and a solid top wall 158 with a notch 160 cut into the front edge 161 of the top wall 158 that is just wide enough for the ball 156 to be held in place but that will allow the ball 156 to pass through the notch 160 with a slight amount of downward pressure. The side walls 162 and 164, and the front wall 166 are made of transparent Plexiglas. There are two protruding members 168 and 170, such as finishing nails, placed strategically to stop the ball 156 from coming to rest in an unmarked dead space of the base 152. There is a removable marker 172 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70.

The Arcadable #2 game is played by a player placing the ball 156 into the notch 160 in a rest position. Then using the index finger, a small force is applied downward until the ball 156 falls downward into one of the holes 154 in the base 152. The holes 154 are each marked with a different number 174 ranging from “2” to “5”.

“ARCADABLE” #3

FIG. 7 illustrates the third of the arcade-style games that may be used to play the game. This third arcade-style game may be referred to as “Arcadable #3”, and is depicted with reference number 180. This arcade-style game sits on a solid base 181 approximately 11 cm×16 cm, and has two side walls 182 and 184, a front wall 186, a back wall 188, and a top wall 190, all made of transparent Plexiglas, generally defining a box 192. The top wall 190 can lift open to allow a player to retrieve the ball 194 located in the box 192. The base 182 sits on a wedge (not shown) that elevates the back 196 of the base 182 to approximately a 70 degree angle relative to vertical.

Inside the box 192 there are two transparent Plexiglas dividing walls 198 and 200 positioned in a T-like configuration so as to divide the base 182 into three main sections. The first section 202 located adjacent the front or bottom end 204 of the box 192 houses a spring-loaded metal paddle 206 with a cylindrical handle 208 protruding out of an opening 210 in the front wall 186. This paddle 206 is spring-loaded with a suitable biasing member 212, such as an elastic band, to help launch the ball 194. The second section is a narrow lane 214 defined by side wall 182 and dividing wall 198, up which the ball 194 is launched. The ball 194 travels up the lane 214 and hits a small angled wall 216 at the top left of the lane 214 that deflects the ball 194 into the third section 218 which is where the action of the game occurs. This third section 218 is the largest of the three sections and contains three half circles 220 defined by upstanding members 222, such as finishing nails, and three equal resting places 224 at the bottom end 226 of this third section 218. The three half circles 220 and the three resting places 224 are adapted to allow the ball 194 to come to rest therein. There are numbers 228 ranging from “1” to “6” marked on the top wall 190 corresponding to the three half circles 220 and the three resting places 224 mentioned above. There is a removable marker 230 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70.

The Arcadable #3 game is played by opening the top wall 190 to retrieve the ball 194, placing the ball 194 in the lane 214 so that it comes to rest on the tip of the paddle 206. The top wall 190 is then closed and the player then pulls the handle 208 and letting go, thereby causing the ball 194 to be launched by the paddle 206 up the lane 214. The launched ball 194 is deflected by angled wall 216 and deflected into the third section 218 where the ball 194 eventually comes to rest randomly in one of the three half circles 220 or the three resting places 224, resulting in one of the numbers 228 between “1” and “6” being chosen.

“ARCADABLE” #4

FIG. 8 illustrates the fourth of the arcade-style games that may be used to play the game. This fourth arcade-style game may be referred to as “Arcadable #4”, and is depicted with reference number 250. This arcade-style game is approximately 11 cm square and 3 cm high and sits on a wedge-shaped base 252 at approximately a 70 degree angle sloping downward relative to vertical. The base 252 is solid and has a number of upstanding thin obstacles 254 (such as finishing nails) protruding from the base 252 in a pattern as depicted in FIG. 8. The game 250 also includes side walls 256 and 258, a front wall 260, a back wall 262 and a top wall 264, all made of transparent Plexiglas. Top wall 264 opens allowing access to the inside of the game 250. The back wall 262 contains three openings 266 allowing the placement of a ball 268 into the upper end 270 of the game 250. The lower end 272 contains six separate equal sections 274 defined in such a way as to allow the ball 268 to come to rest inside one of the sections 274. Each section 274 is numbered with a different number 276 ranging from “1” to “6”, the numbers 276 being marked on the top wall 264 in the appropriate place to label each section 274. The top wall 264 also has on it a removable marker 278 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70.

The Arcadable #4 game is played with a player dropping the ball 268 into any one of the three openings 266 and allowing the ball 268 to roll by gravity through the pattern defined by the upstanding thin obstacles 254. The ball 268 will eventually land randomly in one of the marked sections 274 resulting in a number 276 being chosen. The ball 268 can then be retrieved by the next player by opening the top wall 264.

“ARCADABLE” #5

FIG. 9 illustrates the fifth of the arcade-style games that may be used to play the game. This fifth arcade-style game may be referred to as “Arcadable #5”, and is depicted with reference number 280. This arcade-style game has a solid base 282 to which is attached and extends upwardly two side walls 284 and 286, a front wall 288 and a back wall 290, all made of transparent Plexiglas. The base 282, side walls 284 and 286, front wall 288 and back wall 290 define a box 292 that is approximately 7 cm wide, 10 cm deep and 28 cm tall. The box 292 is open at the top end 294. Disposed inside the box 292 are three deflectors 296, 298 and 300 that are attached to the side walls 284 and 286 and are angled as shown in FIG. 9. The deflectors 296, 298 and 300 are spaced apart and angled sufficiently to allow a ball 302 to be deflected and to fall to the bottom end 304 of the box 292.

The top surface 306 of the base 282 is divided into six equal sections 308 defined by upstanding posts 310, such as finishing nails, each section 308 is large enough to house the ball 302 when it comes to rest on the base 282. On the side walls 284 and 286, the front wall 288 and/or the back wall 290 are numbers 310 ranging from “1” to “6” corresponding to each section 308. A hinged door 312 with a knob 314 is located at the lower end of the box 292 on side wall 284. The door 312 is secured with a Velcro tab (not shown) so that the door 312 can be opened to retrieve the ball 302 and then closed. There is a removable marker 316 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70.

The Arcadable #5 game is played by opening the door 312, removing the ball 302 and closing the door 312 using the Velcro tab. The ball 302 is held over the top of the box 294 and released, dropping it into the box 294 and allowing it to strike one or more of the three deflectors 296, 298 and 300 and then randomly landing into one of the six sections 308, resulting in one of the six numbers 310 being chosen.

“ARCADABLE” #6

FIG. 10 illustrates the sixth of the arcade-style games that may be used to play the game. This sixth arcade-style game may be referred to as “Arcadable #6”, and is depicted with reference number 320. This arcade-style game has a 12 cm by 23 cm solid base 322. At one end 324 of the base 322 is scaffolding structure 326 made of four cylindrical vertical poles 328 approximately 13 cm high extending upwardly from the base 322. Two horizontal poles 330 (about 10 cm long) are disposed at the top ends 332 of two of the vertical poles 328. At the top 334 of the scaffolding structure 326 is a long swinging arm 336 (about 15 cm long) that can swivel around a pivot point 338. Attached to one of the horizontal poles 330 is one end of a chain 340; the second end of the chain 340 is attached to a pear-shaped weight 342 that hangs on a small metal lever 344 at the front end 346 of the swinging arm 336. The lever 344 can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Adjacent of the scaffolding structure 326 and disposed on the base 322 are six cylindrical pegs 348 that fit into depressions 350 in the base 322. The pegs 348 are preferably placed in a triangular pattern with one peg in the front row, two pegs in the second row and three pegs in the third row. These pegs 348 are attached to six separate strings 352, one string for each peg 348. From the underside of the pegs 348, these strings 352 pass through a small hole in each depression 350 and are combined into one twine that extends under the base 322 and the end 353 of the twine exits through a hole 354 in the front 356 of the base 322 as a handle to aid in up-righting the pegs 348 into their respective depressions 350 after they have been knocked down. There is a removable marker 358 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70.

The Arcadable #6 game is played by standing all the pegs 348 up-right in their respective depressions 350 by pulling on the end 353 of the string. The pear shaped weight 342 is placed on the metal lever 344 so as to hold the chain 340 in place on the lever 344. The swinging arm 336 is then swivelled to the player's desired direction and the lever 344 is twisted in either a clockwise or count-clockwise direction causing the pear-shaped weight 342 to fall and to strike the pegs 348 and randomly knocking some or all of them down. The number of pegs 348 knocked down is then counted and used in the game. If one of the pegs 348 is moved so that it is no longer in its initial up-right position then this is counted as a knock down.

“ARCADABLE” #7

FIG. 11 illustrates the seventh of the arcade-style games that may be used to play the game. This seventh arcade-style game may be referred to as “Arcadable #7”, and is depicted with reference number 370. This arcade-style game sits on a solid base 372 which is approximately 18 cm by 10 cm. The back wall 374 is about 10 cm wide and 13 cm high, and the front wall 376 is approximately 6½ cm high. Front wall 376 is divided so as to define a space 378 in the middle of the front wall 376. Space 378 houses a spring- loaded lever 380 with a circular resting place 382 on which a ball 384 can sit. At the top end 386 of the lever 380 are two cylindrical horizontal handles 388 to be used by a player to launch the ball 384. The spring action is accomplished by attaching an elastic or other biasing means (not shown) to the base 372 and to the bottom of the lever 380 so that when the lever 380 is pulled back it is biased to return to its original resting position. The side walls 390 and 392, and the top wall 394 are made of transparent Plexiglas, and together with the base 372, the back wall 374 and the front wall 376 define a box 396. The top wall 394 can be opened to retrieve the ball 384.

On the base 372 inside the box 396 are eight circular pods 398 arranged around a larger circular bowl-shaped pod 400. The circular pods 398 and the bowl-shaped pod 400 are all of sufficient size to allow the ball 384 to come to rest therein. There are numbers 402 on the top wall 394 that correspond to each pod 398 and 400 and that provide a value ranging from “2” to “6”. There is a removable marker 404 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70. Interspersed among the pods 398 and 400 are thin vertical metal obstacles 406 (such as finishing nails), the purpose of which is to deflect the ball 384 into one of the pods 398 and 400 so that the ball 384 does not come to rest in an unmarked dead space.

The Arcadable #7 game is played by lifting the top wall 394 to retrieve the ball 384, then closing the top wall 394 and placing the ball 384 on the circular resting place 382 of the lever 380. The player pulls on the lever 380 downwardly and releases it to launch the ball 384 into the box 396. The ball 384 will eventually land in one of the awaiting pods 398 and 400, resulting in a number ranging from “2” and “6” being chosen.

“ARCADABLE” #8

FIG. 12 illustrates the eighth of the arcade-style games that may be used to play the game. This eighth arcade-style game may be referred to as “Arcadable #8”, and is depicted with reference number 420. This arcade-style game sits on a solid base 422 that is approximately 11 cm by 27 cm in size. There are two side walls 424 and 426, a front wall 428 and a top wall 430, all of which are made of transparent Plexiglas. The base 422 sits on a wedge (defined by front legs 432 that are longer than back legs 434), so that the base 422 is angled at approximately a 70 degree angle relative to vertical. Back wall 436 is a solid mass 438 extending from the back end 440 to an intermediate point 442. There are five circular marble-sized holes (not shown) in the front face 444 of the solid mass 438, thus the holes are open only at the face 444 facing the front wall 428.

The top wall 430 extends from the back end 440 to a point 446 prior to the front wall 428, thereby defining a space 448. Space 448 allows for a moveable marble ramp 450 to be positioned and operated. The front wall 428 is adapted to allow a handle 452 on the ramp 450 to protrude beyond front wall 428. A ball 454 is held in place in the ramp 450 by a screw (not shown) or other device located to the top of the ramp 450 until the ball 454 is flicked into play. Disposed on the base 422 are thin vertical metal obstructions 456 (such as finishing nails) disposed in a pattern as shown in FIG. 12. Optionally, there may be elastic bands 457 placed between two obstructions 456. These obstructions 456 will cause a ball 454 released from the ramp 450 to be deflected in a random manner until the ball 454 comes to rest in one of the holes in the solid mass 438. There are the numbers 458, such as “1”, “4”, “6”, “3” and “2” marked on top wall 430 corresponding to the five marble-shaped holes in solid mass 438. There is a removable marker 460 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70.

The Arcadable #8 game is played by placing the ball 454 on the moveable ramp 450 above the level of the holding screw, positioning the ramp 450 in any of its random positions and then with a slight flick of the index finger, the ball 454 is launched down the ramp 450 into the game where the ball 454 eventually comes to rest randomly in one of the marked holes, resulting in one of the five numbers being chosen.

Playing the Game

A second aspect of the present invention is a method of playing a game between two or more players. In this second aspect, the method includes the steps of:

• • a. providing a game board, such as game board 10 illustrated in FIG. 1;
  • b. providing a unique playing piece for each of the players, such as the playing pieces 64 illustrated in FIG. 2;
  • c. starting each playing piece 64 on the starting space 16;
  • d. each player taking turns using a chance device, such as the spinner 70 shown in FIG. 3, to randomly indicate which one of a plurality of arcade-style games to play;
  • e. playing the indicated arcade-style game, examples of which are shown in

FIGS. 5 to 12, to generate a number indicative of the number of spaces 12 that the player must move the player's playing piece 64 along the course of travel on the game board 10; and

• • f. moving the player's playing piece 64 along the course of travel until a winner is determined when one of the playing pieces 64 reaches the finish space 18.

A preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention will now be described with reference to the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12.

The game begins by setting the game board 10. Each player then picks a unique playing piece 64 from the available twelve different coloured pieces 64 and that will be the player's playing piece for that game. Each player's playing piece 64 is used to indicate the current location of the player on the spaces 12 of the game board 10. The chosen playing pieces 64 are then all placed on the start space 16.

The players then decide where the “finish square” will be to determine the winner of the game. Typically, the finish space 18 will be the last space on the course of travel so that the first player whose playing piece 64 lands on the finish space 18 is declared the winner. However, as described above, in a preferred embodiment, the finish space 18 has a removable, separate laminated square on it also marked “finish”. This removable “finish square” can be moved and placed on any of the other spaces 12 on the game board 10 in order to shorten the continuous path or course of travel that the players must travel before finishing the game.

As described above, each of the arcade-style games shown in FIGS. 5 to 12 have a removable marker that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70. Prior to beginning the game, the players also decide which of the removable markers will be attached to which of the arcade-style games. In an embodiment of the game where there are eight generally triangular pie-shaped sections 76 on the spinner 70, then eight arcade-style games are used. However, if there are more than eight arcade-style games to choose from, then the players also decide which eight arcade-style games will be used for the game at hand, and the removable markers are applied to those eight chosen arcade-style games.

Deciding on which of the players will start the game, and deciding on the order in which the players will proceed throughout the game can be done in various ways. Preferably, the players determine who will start the game using the bottled “Marble Counter” 94. Each of the players takes a turn to shake the bottled “Marble Counter” 94 and place it flat on the playing table allowing the ball 112 to come to rest in one of the numbered pie-shaped sections 104. The player with the highest score will start the game, and the order play then continues to the right of the player.

The first player then uses the spinner 70 shown in FIG. 3 to randomly indicate which one of the arcade-style games the player has to play. The player spins the pointer 88 by hand around the center point 86, ensuring that it makes at least one full revolution. When the pointer 88 stops spinning, the player must play the arcade-style game indicated by the particular indicator 78 present in the pie-shaped section 76 on which the pointed end 92 comes to rest. The player then plays that particular arcade-style game the number scored on that game is the number of spaces that the player's playing piece 64 is moved along the course of travel towards the finish square 18 on the game board 10.

Once the player's playing piece comes to rest on a space 12, the player must follow the instructions on that space. If the space 12 is blank, there is nothing more for the player to do and play continues to the next player on the right. If the player's playing piece 64 lands on a “Go Again” space 46 or 48, the player must play again the arcade-style game that had been used to get to that space 46 or 48. The number scored on the arcade-style game is the number of spaces that the player's playing piece 64 is moved along the course of travel, but this time in the direction of the particular arrow present on the “Go Again” space 46 or 48. Once the playing piece 64 is so moved, the player must again follow the instructions of the space 12 on which the playing piece 64 lands. The player's turn ends when all the instructions have been carried out or if the player lands on a blank space, at which point play continues to the next player to the right.

If a playing piece 64 lands on a space 50, 52 or 54 that has a “+1” or “+2” or “+3” marked on it, the playing piece 64 must be move forward (towards the finish space 18) for the indicated number of spaces, and the player then follows the instructions on that space 12.

If a playing piece 64 lands on a space 56 or 58 that has a “X2” or “X3” marked on the space, the player multiplies the number that he had used to get to that space by either 2 or 3 as the case may be, and the player's playing piece 64 is moved forward (towards the finish space 18) by that number of spaces. If a playing piece 64 lands on a space 56 or 58 that has a “X2” or “X3” marked on the space after being moved from a backward “Go Again” space 48, the player still multiplies that number by 2 or 3, but the playing piece 64 is moved forward (towards the finish space 18) rather than backward (away from the finish space 18).

If a playing piece 64 lands on a space 60 that has a picture of the “Marble Counter” on it, the player must shake the “Marble Counter” 94 until the ball 112 comes to rest and must then move the player's playing piece 64 by the number of spaces corresponding to the number indicated in the “Marble Counter” 94.

If a playing piece 64 lands on one of the “Trade Places” spaces 62, the player must trade places as indicated on the space 62. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 1, the “Trade Places” spaces 62 can include different variations, such as “Trade Places with any Player”, “Trade Places with the Player on your Right” and/or “Trade Places with the Player on your Left”. If the space 62 is marked with “Trade Places with any Player”, the player trades spaces with any player on the board even if the player is in the lead. If a player lands on a “Trade Places with the Player on your Right”, the player must trade places with the player on the right, and similarly, if a player lands on a “Trade Places with the Player on your Left”, the player must trade places with the player on the left.

If a playing piece 64 lands on a space that is occupied by another player's playing piece, then the player must first follow the instruction of that space, if there are any instructions. If the player remains on that space after following those instructions, the player must then have a battle with the player whose playing piece was already occupying the same space using the “Marble Counter” 94 and the player with the highest score moves that number of spaces forward and follows the instructions on that space. If the occupied space is one of the “Trade Places” spaces 62, then the player must trade places as instructed on the space 62 and the new player arriving at that space 62 then engages in a battle using the “Marble Counter” 94.

Each time a player ends his turn, the next player to the right begins his turn using the spinner 70 as described above, and when that player's turn ends, the player to the right then has his turn.

The game ends when the first playing piece 64 reaches to “finish square” (either the finish space 18 or the space that was designated by the players as the “finish square”. The player whose playing piece 64 reaches the “finish square” first is the winner of the game. A playing piece 64 can reach the “finish square” on any turn that provides the player with enough moves to reach the “finish square”.

A further aspect of the present invention is a kit for playing the game. The kit includes:

• • a. a game board comprising a plurality of spaces marked on a surface of the game board, the spaces including a start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, wherein the plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between the start space and the finish space;
  • b. a unique playing piece for each of the players, the playing piece indicating the current location on the spaces of the player;
  • c. a plurality of arcade-style games, each arcade-style game being different from the other arcade-style games and comprising an element of chance that, when played by one of the players, results in a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel;
  • d. a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style games; and
  • e. instructions to play the game, wherein the instruction comprise the following steps:
    • i. starting each playing piece on the starting space;
    • ii. taking turns using the chance device to randomly indicate which one of the arcade-style games to play;
    • iii. playing the indicated arcade-style game to generate a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel; and
    • iv. moving the player's playing piece along the course of travel by the number generated by the arcade-style game until a winner is determined when one of the playing pieces reaches the finish space.

It is to be understood that while certain embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, the present invention is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the present invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.

Claims

1. A game for two or more players comprising:

a. a game board comprising a plurality of spaces marked on a surface of the game board, the spaces including a start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, wherein the plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between the start space and the finish space;

b. a unique playing piece for each of the players, the playing piece indicating the current location on the spaces of the player;

c. a plurality of arcade-style games, each arcade-style game comprising an element of chance that, when played by one of the players, results in a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel; and

d. a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style games.

2. The game of claim 1, comprising eight arcade-style games and wherein the chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotable around a center point and, when the pointer comes to rest after being spun by a player is adapted to indicate one of eight different indicators that each correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.

3. The game of claim 2, wherein each of the arcade-style games comprises a removable marker that corresponds to one of the indicators of the spinner.

4. The game of claim 1, wherein each arcade-style game is different from the other arcade-style games.

5. A method of playing a game between two or more players, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a game board comprising a plurality of spaces marked on a surface of the game board, the spaces including a start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, wherein the plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between the start space and the finish space,

b. providing a unique playing piece for each of the players, the playing piece indicating the current location on the spaces of the player;

c. starting each playing piece on the starting space;

d. each player taking turns using a chance device to randomly select which one of a plurality of arcade-style games to play;

e. playing the selected arcade-style game to generate a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel; and

f. moving the player's playing piece along the course of travel by the number generated by the arcade-style game until a winner is determined when one of the playing pieces reaches the finish space.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein eight arcade-style games are provided, and wherein the chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotable around a center point and, when the pointer comes to rest after being spun by a player is adapted to indicate one of eight different indicators that each correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the arcade-style games comprises a removable marker that corresponds to one of the indicators of the spinner.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein each arcade-style game is different from the other arcade-style games.

9. A kit for playing a game between two or more players, the kit comprising:

a. a game board comprising a plurality of spaces marked on a surface of the game board, the spaces including a start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, wherein the plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between the start space and the finish space;

b. a unique playing piece for each of the players, the playing piece indicating the current location on the spaces of the player;

c. a plurality of arcade-style games, each arcade-style game being different from the other arcade-style games and comprising an element of chance that, when played by one of the players, results in a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel; and

d. a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style games; and

e. instructions to play the game, wherein the instruction comprise the following steps: i. starting each playing piece on the starting space; ii. each player taking turns using the chance device to randomly select which one of the arcade-style games to play; iii. playing the selected arcade-style game to generate a number indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along the course of travel; and iv. moving the player's playing piece along the course of travel by the number generated by the arcade-style game until a winner is determined when one of the playing pieces reaches the finish space.

10. The kit of claim 9, comprising eight arcade-style games and wherein the chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotable around a center point and, when the pointer comes to rest after being spun by a player is adapted to indicate one of eight different indicators that each correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.

11. The kit of claim 10, wherein each of the arcade-style games comprises a removable marker that corresponds to one of the indicators of the spinner.

12. The kit of claim 9, wherein each arcade-style game is different from the other arcade-style games.