Abstract: A gaming table with an upper surface that includes a gaming chip placement area and a lower surface opposite the upper surface is provided. The gaming table also includes a housing coupled to one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the gaming table, an antenna coupled to the housing, wherein the antenna is configured to form an electromagnetic field that defines a zone of communication in which a gaming chip including a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag can be read.

Abstract: A game apparatus has a plurality of actuation devices in which at least two of the actuation devices require different mechanical actions for actuation. The apparatus further includes a speaker, a display screen, and a processor coupled to each of the actuation devices and to the display screen and the speaker. The processor outputs a first command signal to the speaker relating to a first actuation device, then outputs a second command signal to the speaker when the first actuation device is actuated, with the second command signal relating to a second actuation device. The processor outputs image signals to the display screen that are representative of the mechanical actions being taken.

Abstract: A game system comprises a game board having a playing area and game pieces for playing a game on the game board. Each game piece comprises a mobile robot for sensing and decoding a position-coding pattern printed on the game board. Each game piece is in communication with a computer system. The computer system is configured to send instructions for moving each game piece relative to the playing area in response to position information corresponding to the game pieces.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing aspects of how a child learns includes a toy-like base having upstanding pegs. The child is encouraged to place donut shaped hand pieces onto the pegs. The hand pieces test the ability of the child to discriminate between different colors, and separately between different textures and different shapes and also tests the child's abilities in perception and creativity. The base also is able to test the child's ability to discern and copy tones and rhythms. Information of the child's performance is automatically collected within the apparatus and then compared with a normative baseline. Remediation focuses on activities related to the learning channels where the child is least astute and periodic retesting measures the ability of the child to improve in those channels to enable improvement of remediation approaches.

Abstract: An improved antenna system, method and apparatus for interrogating and locating RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags and other RF (Radio Frequency) devices, and various applications therefore and thereof, are disclosed. One embodiment is for reading and locating the physical position of RFID tags (such as is made by Phillips, Siemens's Infineon and Texas Instrument) that may be embedded in gaming chips (RFID gaming chips, such as is made by Gaming Partners International Corp.) used in a casino, TV or movie studio or elsewhere for wagering at table games and other gambling games including Blackjack, Poker, Craps, Baccarat and Roulette, but the invention may be used for various other RFID applications.

Abstract: Game information is provided that includes a table, a formed object incorporating a coil and a memory for storing identification information on the formed object. When a formed object is placed on the tablet, the apparatus obtains from the input system a placed position and direction on the tablet, and identification information on the formed object. The apparatus can detect a change of the placed position and the direction obtained from the input system, select character information corresponding to the identification information, dispose the character in a game space, control motion and movement of the character according to the change detected, and generate an image in the game space including the character controlled by the character control unit.

Abstract: A computerized interactor system uses physical, three-dimensional objects as metaphors for input of user intent to a computer system. When one or more interactors are engaged with a detection field, the detection field reads an identifier associated with the object and communicates the identifier to a computer system. The computer system determines the meaning of the interactor based upon its identifier and upon a semantic context in which the computer system is operating.

Abstract: A game apparatus is provided for one or more players having a first game member that includes a puzzle or a game area having indicia forming a grid having sub-grids including a plurality of cells. Each cell is assigned indicia in a solution pattern of the puzzle such that a distinct indicia appears once in each row, column, and sub-grid. The first game member displays the solution indicia for some of the cells and the remaining cells are divided into a number of sub-cells bearing the possible solution indicia for the corresponding cell such that each sub-cell includes a distinct indicia. A player speculates which sub-cell bears the correct solution indicia for the respective cell. The apparatus further includes at least one game piece adapted to randomly display an indicia when manipulated, the indicia modifying a game parameter such as a player's score or number of possible speculations the player can make in one turn.

Abstract: In a light emitting diode (LED) chess set, when a chess piece of the chess set is placed on a chessboard, a power supply element in the chessboard will supply power to an LED in the chess piece to emit light, so that the chess piece gives a light emitting effect. When a player removes a chess piece from a square of the chessboard for a next movement of the chess piece, a control element in the chessboard will identify an identification element of the chess piece through a sensing element on the square to determine the possible next movements of the chess piece on the chessboard and drive the LEDs in the corresponding squares of all suggested movements to emit light. The light-emitting square guides and suggests players to make the next movement of a chess piece and improve a beginner's memory on the rules of chess.

Abstract: An interactive game board system includes a game board, a plurality of capacitive sensors embedded in the game board, a microprocessor with input channels for the capacitive sensors, computer memory means, software instructions and data for directing an interactive game, one or more playing pieces with electrically an conductive portion, and power supply means. An interactive game board system includes interdigitated sensors. An interactive game board system includes capacitive sensors operating in dynamic sensing mode. An interactive game board system includes means for identifying individual game pieces.

Abstract: A chess piece is embedded with a light unit; a central lead and peripheral lead are made on its bottom. A chess board comprises a top electrode plate and a bottom electrode place. The top electrode plate has a plurality holes where the central leads electrically couples to a bottom electrode plate. The chess piece is lit when placed in position on a chess board where the central lead electrically couples to the bottom electrode plate and the peripheral lead electrically couples to the top electrode plate.

Abstract: Various contact systems and methods for manufacturing and using such are disclosed herein. Examples of the contact systems include a surface with one set of pads biased at a first voltage level, and another set of pads biased at a second voltage level. Such a contact system can be used, for example, to transfer power to an electromechanical device disposed thereon. In one particular example, the electromechanical device can include a power storage element and two or more couplings. When one of the couplings contacts a pad biased at the first voltage level, and another of the couplings contacts a pad biased at the second voltage level, a circuit is completed where some derivative of the differential between the first voltage level and the second voltage level is placed across the power storage element. Completion of the circuit causes the power storage element to charge. Power can be drawn from the power storage element to operate the electromechanical device.

Abstract: A card game apparatus includes a large-size panel display, a main control unit that controls screens on the large-size panel display, and a plurality of terminal apparatuses that are communicably connected to the main control unit. A game player purchases an integrated circuit card and, for example, eleven player cards on each of which, a soccer player's photograph is printed. When the game player arranges the player cards on a player card arrangement panel of one of the terminal apparatuses, card data recorded on the back of the player card will be read by an internal image sensor. Then, a team is organized by the player cards, and a game starts. The game player can direct a player's position and formation by changing placement of the player card.

Abstract: An electronics circuit designed for a matrix array of receivers configured to detect multiple external resistors of close values selected from the 100 ohm to 1 Mohm range, and to provide different responses according to the resistance of a resistor connected to a receiver.

Abstract: A board-type game to be played by two or more players. The game includes lasers where players selectively divert the path of the laser beams. The board apparatus comprises a surface, bounded by a frame, over which laser beams are directed down symbolic rows and columns which constitute a matrix of squares. Each square is a subregion of the surface piece, and is bounded along its four sides by raised edges which are parallel and perpendicular rows and columns of the board. The raised edges, creating recessed squares, assist in orienting the playing pieces. Playing pieces may contain no mirror, one mirror, or two mirrors (oriented back-to-back to produce separate surfaces reflecting in opposite directions). Playing pieces are placed in a predetermined “starting” configuration on the squares of the gridded surface piece. Depending on whether a playing piece contains a mirror or not, said piece may reflect an incident laser beam from a row to a column or from a column to a row.

Abstract: A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.

Abstract: A game module has a signal generator for generating a signal for supply to a playing piece when the playing piece is electrically coupled to the games module. The playing piece has a memory for storing data and is arranged to derive a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module by coupling to a user so as to complete an electrical path via the user back to the game module and to communicate data with the game module when power is thereby derived by the power deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.

Abstract: An electronic educational toy designed to teach letters, words and numbers and stimulate the development of a child's mind using audio feedback, the educational toy including an enclosure enclosing a processor, a data storage medium and a speaker and having a substantially flat surface, at least a portion of which comprises a work platform on which a child manipulates and places an object.

Abstract: A light projection assembly includes a laser, particularly a diode laser, positioned and mounted for projecting a laser beam onto a surface of a game arena, and a trigger pivotally connected to a housing for mounting the laser. The trigger is repeatedly and rapidly moved up and down to oscillate the laser in approximately a five degree arc to cause the laser beam to produce the illusion of a continuous animated line on the game arena surface. Mirrors can be positioned on the arena surface to reflect the light emitting from the laser to create a plurality of continuous visible lines of light on the arena surface. A variety of entertaining games can be played in conjunction with the invention.

Abstract: A system and method for interconnecting a computer with the physical structure of an amusement device. The interface assembly contains a plurality of play object identifiers that are capable of identifying various play objects when placed on the interface assembly. Depending upon the game or activity being played, the system may have a plurality of prop objects that are selectively positionable on the interface assembly. The prop objects are used to create an activity landscape on the interface assembly. The computer reads the configuration of the activity landscape through the interface assembly. The game or activity being played also has action objects that are selectively positionable on the interface assembly within the activity landscape, wherein interface assembly reads the position of the action objects to the computer.

Abstract: A chess game and method for opposed players includes a six-by-eight checkerboard-style game board, two sets of game pieces, each set including conventional chess pieces, e.g. a King, a Queen, a Bishop, a Rook, a Knight, and six Pawns, and a novel chess piece named the Lord. The Lord may be moved about the game board one square in any direction from its current square. A method is also disclosed wherein the chess game is played for a fixed duration of time, and points are awarded to the players based upon the number of game pieces remaining on the game board at the expiration of the allotted time. The player having the highest cumulative point total at the end of the game is then declared the winner. A method is also disclosed for adapting the chess game for play electronically, such as through a global network of computers.

Abstract: A child's construction set contains virtual intelligence, is interactive and smart, characteristics that may be exhibited to a player during player construction activity with the set and, thereafter, during continuing play and instills a sense of unpredictability to play. The set incorporates a programmed controller (17), a speaker (23), special (“smart”) play pieces or blocks (1,3,5,7, et cet.) and a base (15) on which to position the play pieces or blocks. Sensors (A1-C3), referred to as “hot spots”, are distributed at various positions about the base and are coupled to the controller, whereby the controller identifies special play pieces and the location of those play pieces when the respective play piece is installed at one of those positions. Some of the special play pieces may depict characters, some contain electrically operated devices, and some contain a player operated input device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a game device, comprising: a game board divided into discrete squares and pieces of differing type for placing on these squares, such as a chessboard and chess pieces, wherein the squares are ordered in a rectangular array comprising rows and columns of squares, which game device comprises detection means for detecting the possible presence and the type of a piece on each square, in addition to means for generating appropriate detection signals, which device comprises: resonance coils arranged in the playing pieces; a number of elongate transmit and receive coils arranged in the board which each extend below a row or column of squares such that a part of both a transmit and receive coil is situated under each square; means for successively selecting a transmit coil and a receive coil in scanning manner; an amplifier which in correspondingly scanning manner is connected with its output to the selected transmit coil and connected with its input to the selected receive coil such tha

Abstract: A device and method for interconnecting a computer or similar central processing unit with the physical structure of an amusement device so that the computer can participate during play. The device can be embodied within the amusement device or can be used in conjunction with an inlay that simulates a board game. In either scenario, a plurality of identification units are positioned in the amusement device at points where game pieces are used. The identification units sense the presence of a game piece as the game is played and the game pieces are moved. If an identification unit detects the presence of a game piece, the identification unit produces an output signal that is read by the computer. The output signal identifies both the location of the game piece and the type of game piece. As a result, the computer is informed as to the location and identity of all the game pieces used in the game. The computer can use this information to monitor the play of the game or participate in the play of the game.

Abstract: An educational globe-shaped tool is provided including a rigid sphere having a plurality of bores formed therein each with a lamp and a switch associated therewith which generates an activation signal when closed. A plurality of country pieces each having an outboard portion with a periphery shaped as a unique country. Each country piece further has a post for being removably coupled with an associated one of the bores for closing the switch thereof. Control circuitry is connected between each of the switches and the lamps. Such control circuitry is adapted to illuminate one of the lamps upon the receipt of an associated activation signal.

Abstract: An electronic matching game includes a plurality of primary game pieces each representative of a mother farm animal, a plurality of secondary game pieces each representative of a baby farm animal associated with one of mother farm animals, and a plurality of removable cover members for selectively concealing the identity of each of the secondary game pieces. The apparatus further includes a base assembly having a first receptacle adapted to interchangeably receive one of the primary game pieces, and further having a second receptacle adapted to interchangeably receive one of the secondary game pieces. The base assembly includes an electronic sound generation device for producing a plurality of sounds, each sound being associated with a respective one of the primary and secondary game pieces.

Abstract: A combination computer game and board game including a game board, a plurality of toy figures selectably positionable by a player with respect to the game board and apparatus for automatically and non-discretely sensing the location of the toy figures relative to the game board and actuating an audio/visual display sequence in response thereto.

Abstract: An inductive sensory system is provided. The system includes at least one object encoded with conductive material and a reader for use in detecting the presence or absence of the conductive material in the coded object. The reader includes a plurality of single coils and detection means for measuring changes in the self inductance of the coils due to the presence or absence of conductive material in the object. The sensory system further includes control means interconnected to the detection means. The control means are adapted to receive a signal from the detection means, translate the signal and generate a control signal for transmission to an external reactive member such as a light, sound or voice generator.

Abstract: A board game simulating the assembly of an automobile wherein players proceed about a game board having a plurality of spaces depending upon the roll of a die. As a player lands on a particular space, he gains the right to use a specific part of an automobile in creating an assembled automobile. If a player lands on an ignition key circle, he is permitted to transfer a peg from a lock on the board to an aperture on the ignition key circle. The players compete to determine who completes the assembly first. Pick-a-card and spin spaces are also provided to furnish an additional element of excitement. After the assembly and ignition circle are complete, a player then inserts a key into the ignition slot completing a circuit to start an "engine" and signal completion of the game with a winner.

Abstract: A game board is shown having a playing surface with a map and a game playing path thereon. The players move their markers or talismen along the path. The path can be optionally a slot or groove, a series of peg holes, or a marked mileage strip. By a chance mechanism, player movement is determined. The preferred talisman carries a torch with simulated light from a bulb provided with battery power.

Abstract: A board game defines a plurality of playing positions in the form of a gridwork including a plurality of discrete, electrically isolated, metal frames, each frame enclosing one of the playing positions and supporting a translucent coextensive window. Playing pieces, some being of different types, are movable between playing positions in accordance with a predetermined pattern dependent upon their type and influenced by the locations of other playing pieces. A regulating system selectively alters a sensible characteristic at each of the playing positions to thereby alter an attribute of a playing piece which lands on a certain one of the playing positions. This is done by successively illuminating each of the playing positions by means of one or more colored electric lamps or by providing no illumination at all.

Abstract: A game apparatus wherein players move along a playing path and make various electrical interconnections along the way. At any one given time only one space on the playing field contains an open switch coupled to a noise generating device. If a player lands on the selected space and closes the switch, a noise will sound and the player gets to keep toy money laid out on the playing field. A selection control unit randomly changes the position of the open switch on the game board each time it is found. As a result, a player never knows whether or not he or she is moving toward or away from the open switch. The selection control unit also eliminates previously used spaces from the random selection process. As such, the players know that once a space has been used and the money for that space has been taken, that space will not be selected again.

Abstract: The cryptography game is an electrical device having a sending panel and opposite receiving panel, with a privacy extending upwardly between them. A probe is provided which engages within jacks on the sending panel which are identified with letters of the alphabet. The jacks engage one end of a cable via a connector assembly to the other end of which a plurality of LED's on the receiving panel are connected via a further connecter assembly. Power is provided from a battery having a resistor in the line to control current. When the probe is engaged within the jack completing the circuit a cooperating LED lights, indicating a specific letter of the alphabet. The "code" is determined by positioning of the cable connectors, which each have 26 slots, over an equal number of pins of two forty pin connectors, the position of the cable connectors creating multiple encryption possibilities by their specific positioning.

Abstract: A board game is arranged to simulate inner action between a predator species, such as a tiger, and a prey species, such as a cow, wherein the predators are overwhelmingly outnumbered by the prey, and wherein the prey by various tactics is permitted to eliminate the predator, wherein the predator readily eliminating the prey by a jumping motion, wherein the game board is arranged to include intersecting game paths to permit interaction of the predator and prey tokens relative to the game paths.

Abstract: A game apparatus arranged to simulate the crowning of kings, wherein a player to dispose his tokens in a king form in an opposing player's home spaces adjacent an outer periphery of the game board is arranged, wherein the pegs are arranged for a nesting configuration relative to one another to effect a king designation. A dice member is directed to move the pegs about predetermined bores within the game board directing the pegs to a primary central space within each board segment for crowning of a king.

Abstract: A board game includes a continuous path having a plurality of categories indicated by various spaces within the path, wherein each category is directed to a various procedure to include a pantomime, response to trivia question, perform a charade, or lose a turn. Limited time frames are available to effect completion of each category, wherein a card deck includes each category thereon for a performance by an individual or teams of individuals.

Abstract: A game which is to simulate a mine field which has a game board assembly constructed of a lower game board and an upper game board with an open playing area located therebetween. Within the open playing area on the lower game board of the game board assembly is to be locatable one or more first playing members at various first playing piece locations. Each first playing member includes an annunciator. A second playing member is to be locatable at any one of a multitude of second playing piece locations on the upper game board. The second playing members are to be moved across the upper game board and if a second playing member becomes in direct vertical alignment with the first playing member, the annunciator for that first playing member is activated.

Abstract: An electronic amusement device having preprogrammed game playability uses logical balls or tokens and multi-colored lights to achieve a final state. Game play is based upon the selection of one of three sizes of tokens to be played along one of three different token paths. As game play progresses, the lights change color state while certain tokens are trapped by being made unavailable for further play, while other previously played tokens are released for future play. Control of the state of colors and state of token traps is controlled by a number of erasable programmable read only memories. Game play ends upon achieving a final state designating a specific color array of lights and tokens trapped.

Abstract: An electronic displaying device, together with a control unit and electronic circuitry appropriate to the encoding, sending, receiving, decoding, and displaying of data as used in various games, such as Bingo, Keno, or the like, in which a plurality of players may participate. In the exemplary game of Bingo, for instance, light-weight plastic balls, each marked with a letter and a number, are randomly selected and deposited into apertures in a console, by which action they are automatically identified through the breaking of one row and one column infra-red light beam of a coordinate grid of such beams. Through electronic encoding, transmitting, receiving, and decoding, the aforesaid letter-number combination is substantially instantaneously displayed in two places on a display board or a video monitor. The numbers are continuously selected and progressively displayed until a round of play has been completed in accordance with various rules of the game being played.

Abstract: A race track includes a recessed continuous track path directed through a top surface of a rigid game board, wherein the rigid game board includes a vibratory mechanism to transmit vibratory energy to tokens mounted within the race track path. The race track tokens include a plurality of vibratory transmitting tabs projecting downwardly through a bottom surface of each token, wherein the tabs may optionally be rotatably mounted upon a rotary cylinder to permit directional orientation to each token during its traverse of the path.

Abstract: A board type game which utilizes lasers where players selectively divert the path of laser beams. The board apparatus comprises an enclosed chamber formed by a top and bottom piece and a frame piece within which laser beams are directed down symbolic rows and columns constituting a matrix of squares. Each square has an X-shaped slot along the diagonals of the square. These slots are formed in the bottom piece and top piece. Deflecting pieces, which may be mirrors, are placed at the player's discretion in diagonal slots of an X-shaped to deflect an incident laser beam from a row or column to a corresponding column or row. A scoring module, sensitive to incident laser light, is positioned in the chamber in front of each player. The players alternate in placing deflecting pieces in the chamber with the object to either direct their laser beams toward the opponent's scoring module or to prevent their opponent's laser beams from reaching their own scoring module.

Abstract: An electronic game apparatus which includes a playing board having a playing surface and playing areas and is capable of identifying game pieces and their position on the playing surface. First and second sets of parallel transmission lines are located beneath the playing surface of the playing board. The second set of parallel transmission lines is orthogonal to the first set of transmission lines. The first and second sets of transmission lines form intersecting points which are positioned proximate to a playing area of the playing surface. A source of electromagnetic energy has a plurality of predetermined different frequencies within a predetermined frequency range. A plurality of game pieces, each containing a resonant circuit having a predetermined resonant frequency, correspond to a frequency within a predetermined frequency range. A selector sequentially supplies electromagnetic energy at a selected frequency within the predetermined frequency range to the first set of transmission lines.

Abstract: A game apparatus and method for using the same. The game apparatus includes a game piece placed on a game board. The game board has a circuit which contains a first and second set of terminals that penetrate through the top surface of the game board. Each terminal set is wired to a power source and a pump. The game piece has different chip types with a uniquely shaped conductive surface. The chip is placed on the board over the terminals. Then the chip's conductive surface is forced to contact either the first or second set of terminals to close a circuit and activate one of the pumps.

Abstract: A playing device for learning how to play chess designed in the form of a chess teaching computer comprises a housing having on its top a board divided into sixty-four squares of equal size and taking up in its interior a chess computer whose signal inputs and outputs are connected with the individual squares. The improved arrangement is such that the chess computer (5) is connected with an additional program memory means (9) which is also disposed within the housing (2) and contains a plurality of practice positions (11) in a stored form, a switch (14) is disposed on the side beside the board (3) for switching over the electrical connection between the individual squares (4) each having a control switch (7) and the chess computer (5) to the program memory means (9), and the leads (12) of the practice positions (11) contained in the program memory means (9) are each connected with a control switch (7) of the squares (4).

Abstract: Electronic game apparatus comprising a board displaying discrete playing areas and a number of playing pieces. Transmit and receive coils are provided beneath the surface of the board, preferably at right angles to each other, and each playing piece is provided in its base with an element. Means are provided for supplying a high-frequency current to each transmit coil in turn and for detecting the voltage induced in the receive coils for each discrete playing area. The presence of a playing piece on the playing area being tested, will affect the voltage induced in the receive coils and hence the presence, absence or type if desired, of a playing piece may be determined. The element preferably consists of any suitable metal or ferromagnetic material. Playing pieces of different types may be provided with elements of different materials.

Abstract: An illuminating peg board game 20 is provided including peg 58 and 60 having numerically identified electrical sockets 64 formed therein. Each socket 64 is provided to activate a light illuminating peg 66 when placed in the socket. Some of the pegs illuminate a constant light when activated while the other pegs illuminate a blinking light when activated. The game is played with two players. In playing the game each player is provided with a pair of dice 100 which is used to identify which particular socket or sockets will have a light illuminating peg inserted therein. The object is for a player to completely fill the sockets 64 in one or the other of the boards 58 or 60 with illuminating pegs 66 before the opponent can fill the sockets 64 in the other board. The first to completely fill the assigned board 58 or 60 wins the game.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the identity and position of game pieces disposed at any desired location within various fields of a playing area, such as a chessboard. The fields are subdivided into at least two subfields and an electrical signal is applied to one of the subfields. The signal is conducted to a second subfield by means of identification devices disposed at the underside of the game pieces where the signal is detected by a scanning device and evaluated in an evaluation device. The evaluation device stores signals associated with the individual game pieces as a function of the identification devices so that a signal comparison determines the identity, as well as the position, of each respective game pieces disposed in the playing area.

Abstract: An electronic alpha-numeric digit displaying device, together with a control unit and electronic circuitry appropriate to the encoding, sending, receiving, decoding, and displaying of data as used in various games, such as Bingo, Keno, or the like, in which a plurality of players may participate. In the exemplary game of Bingo, for instance, light-weight plastic balls, each marked with a letter and a number, are randomly selected and deposited into apertures in a console, by which action they are automatically identified through the breaking of one row and one column infra-red light beam of a coordinate grid of such beams. Through electronic encoding, transmitting/receiving, and decoding, the aforesaid letter-number combination is substantially instantaneously displayed in two places on a display board.

Abstract: A sensory electronic game which includes a board having a number of defined positions each provided with an isotropic field sensor such as a reed switch which has open and closed positions depending upon the presence or absence of a magnetic field, and two sets of playing pieces. All pieces have a magnet with its N-S axis substantially upright to provide a magnetic field which will open or close the sensor when a piece is positioned on the associated board position. To avoid a lack of detection if one piece is quickly replaced by another piece, the pieces of one set have the N pole facing downwardly whilst the pieces of the other set have the S pole facing downwardly. Then, by detecting the opening and closing of the sensors including momentary open and closed positions during capture or replacement of a piece of one set by a piece of another set, movement of pieces can be determined.

Abstract: A strategy game device having a support base with a top surface and at least three peg receptacles, each rotatably connected to the base at the center of the receptacle. Each receptacle has at least three peg-receiving holes equally spaced about the periphery of the receptacle. The number of holes in each receptacle is the same. There are at least two sets of pegs and each set comprises a number of pegs which can be inserted in the aforementioned holes. Each set has a color different than the color of the other sets. In one version the centers of the peg receptacles are spaced apart along a straight line extending parallel to the top surface of the base. In another version the peg receptacles are circular and are rotatable about a common center axis. In the preferred version of this embodiment, each receptacle has eight peg-receiving holes equally spaced from one another about the periphery.