Board game with levitating magnetic game pieces in a race

Abstract

The game consists of a planar game board (10), a series of vertically extended pegs (18) along a track, and magnetic game pieces (20) that freely slide down pegs (18). Each player selects a plurality of game pieces (20) of one color to differentiate from other players' game pieces (20). The object of the game is to be the first player to move all of his game pieces (20) from start (14) to finish (16). Players, in turn, roll dice, a chance device, and move game pieces (20) as indicated. Players' magnetic game pieces (20) interact in exciting and unexpected ways. A game piece (20) landing on a peg (18) above another game piece (20) will either attract and capture, or repel and levitate, depending on their relative magnetic orientations, another element of chance. When a game piece lands on particular pegs (18) or spaces (12), the player draws a random card, another element of chance, which directs surprise moves such as forward, backward or flipping.

Claims

1. A board game comprising: a game board with a planar surface; a track of contiguous spaces and vertically extending pegs along said planar surface; a plurality of magnetic game pieces, each with a center hole, that freely slide down said pegs; a plurality of players, each having a plurality of said magnetic game pieces of a different color; a plurality of said magnetic game pieces interact and interplay, by attraction and capture, and by repulsion and levitation, suspended in space above a lower said magnetic game piece; a plurality of elements of chance; wherein a plurality of said magnetic game pieces are moved along said track in a race to be the first of said players to move all of his said magnetic game pieces from start to finish.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A VIEW OF THE DRAWING

[0023] A perspective view of one embodiment of the game showing a game board with a limited number of spaces, pegs, and game pieces in a variety of positions out of a plethora of possible positions, and a short track, in accordance with one embodiment. The limited number of spaces, pegs, and game pieces and a short track make the drawing and game more readily understood.

TABLE-US-00002 DRAWINGS - REFERENCE NUMERALS 10 game board base 12 space 14 start space 16 finish space 18 peg 20 magnetic game piece 22 levitating magnetic game piece 24 captor magnetic game piece 26 captive magnetic game piece

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION—ONE EMBODIMENT

[0024] The board game of skill and chance involves a plurality of players, each player moving his or her plurality of magnetic game pieces 20 along a track to compete to be the first player to move all of his magnetic game pieces 20 from start 14 to finish 16. The track is composed of a series of contiguous spaces 12, with a vertical peg 18 in the center of each space 12. There is a hole in the center of each magnetic game piece 20 enabling it to freely slide down a peg 18. Each player selects a plurality of magnetic game pieces 20 of one color to differentiate her magnetic game pieces 20 from other players' magnetic game pieces 20.

[0025] During the plurality of players' magnetic game pieces' 20 movements along the track, there is a plethora of new dimensions of unexpected and exciting interplay among the plurality of players' magnetic game pieces 20, from beginning to end, from start 14 to finish 16.

[0026] Each player, in turn, rolls the dice, one of three elements of chance in the game, indicating the number of spaces that player's magnetic game piece 20 is to be moved. If a player lands on a peg 18 already occupied by another magnetic game piece 20, the relative polarities of the magnetic game pieces are unknown, in advance, a second element of chance. If the polarities of the two magnetic game pieces 20 are the same, the top magnetic game piece 20 will become a levitating magnetic game piece 22, suspended in space above the lower magnetic game piece 20. If the two magnetic game pieces 20 have opposing polarities, they will attract and the top magnetic game piece 20 will become a captor magnetic game piece 24, capturing the lower one. The drawing shows multiple possible, potential combinations, orientations and relationships among magnetic game pieces 20, which may stack on a peg 18 or pegs 18.

[0027] One embodiment of the game is illustrated in the perspective view. The game has a thin base 10 of uniform cross-section, consisting of a piece of material, thick enough to allow for a plurality of holes of a limited depth into which a plurality of pegs 18 are inserted. In one embodiment, the base 10 is solid PVC, Polyvinyl chloride. In other embodiments, the base 10 may be made of any of a plurality of materials including, but not limited to wood, metal, acrylic, plastic, cardboard or any other material appropriate to the intended use. In this embodiment, the track is square, but can be rectangular, round, serpentine, or of any shape or design.

[0028] When a player's magnetic game piece 20 lands on a designated space, he or she is directed to draw a card from a stack of randomly, shuffled cards, a third element of chance. Cards direct players to make one of a plurality of possible moves that player must make, including but not limited to, moving forward or backward a number of spaces 12, or back to start 14. Some cards direct the player to flip his game piece 20, changing the orientation of its magnetic fields. When two or more opposing players' magnetic game pieces 20 are attached and the top, captor game piece 24 is directed to flip, then both magnetic game pieces flip together, the bottom, captive game piece 26, becomes the top, captor game piece 24 and the bottom, captive game piece 26 becomes the captor game piece 24.

[0029] All captive magnetic game pieces 26 belonging to the player with the top captor magnetic game piece 24 count when reaching the finish 16. Captive game pieces 26 not belonging to the player with the top, captor game piece 24 do not count when reaching the finish 16. In addition to multiple elements of chance, there is more excitement based on skill and strategy. Before a player rolls the dice, that player must determine and indicate with a marker which one of his game pieces 20 he or she will move in that turn. A player may decide it is to his advantage not to move his or her captor game piece 24 that has captured, or is in-control above one or more of another player's or players' game pieces 20, in order to prevent them from moving toward the finish space 16. Before introducing a magnetic game piece 20 into play, a player may strategize which orientation of polarities of that magnetic game piece 20 may be better.

[0030] Before play begins, players may agree to change the rules in a variety of ways to shorten or increase the duration of play. Using one die will increase the duration. Using two dice will speed up the game. Using more game pieces per player will increase game time while using fewer game pieces per player will shorten the game time. Also, before play begins, players will roll dice to see who goes first and who has first choice of game piece 20 colors. The second roll and second choice of color goes to the person to his left.

[0031] In this embodiment, the game board base 10 has a plurality of contiguous spaces 12 forming a track from start 14 to finish 16. This embodiment has a limited number of spaces 12 to better explain the game. The game may have a plurality of many more spaces 12 than shown in the perspective view. In other embodiments, there are only pegs 18.

[0032] A peg 18 is inserted in the center of each space 12. In this embodiment, pegs 18 are made of solid PVC plastic. In other embodiments, the pegs 18 are made of any of a variety of materials, including but not limited to wood, or any non-ferrous material, or clear acrylic plastic which enhances the appearance of levitating magnetic game pieces 22. Pegs 18 may also be white in color or of any color. Some pegs 18 that indicate a card must be drawn, may be of a different color or be marked in a way that distinguishes them from the other pegs 18. Players may agree where to insert the different colored pegs 18 before the game begins

[0033] Cards, dice and marker are conventional and therefore are not shown in the perspective v.

[0034] The invention has many advantages over prior art. Magnetic game pieces 20 are moved horizontally along a track, as well as vertically, in three dimensions, down pegs 18. Game pieces 20 in most other games move either vertically or horizontally, but rarely three-dimensionally. Players' magnetic game pieces 20 interact and interplay with other players' magnetic game pieces 20 and with their own magnetic game pieces 20 in a plurality of ways. One player's magnetic game piece 20 may levitate above other players' magnetic game pieces 20. A magnetic game piece 20 may capture or be captured by other magnetic game pieces 20. One player's magnetic game piece 20 that is at the top of a stack of players' magnetic game pieces 20 will be in control of the other game pieces 20, preventing them from moving.