Credit Mania

Abstract

A game is provided having a game board that represents real-life scenarios and allows players to earn rewards and points by accumulating points and participating in all types of activities. The game includes Assets cards, life cards, event cards, avatar cards, pawns, dice, first-player token, coins, and phase marker to facilitate the complete gaming process.

Claims

1. A game for teaching management of credit, debt and managing daily life activities comprising: Game Board, which is a planar, grid-like game board including a plurality of sections; a multiplayer game of up to 5 players; game for both adults and kids of 10 years or older; Game Instructions; Asset cards; Life cards; Event cards; Avatar cards; Pawns; Dice; Player token; Coins; and, Phase marker.

2. A system of presenting a game There the following steps are involved comprising: placing the board on the table; shuffling the Life deck. Place face down near the board; shuffling the Event deck. Place face down near the board; shuffling the 3 Asset decks separately. Place each deck face down near the board. Reveal as many as the game dictates (see: assets), and place then on the play area around the board, as the asset display (9 cards in total: 4?1-star, 3?2-st 2?3-star); placing the dice on the play area around the board; placing the coin tokens on the play area, this is the game bank; shuffling the Avatar Deck and deal a random card to each player; each player chooses 6 pawns of 1 color to represent them; placing pawns: Place 1 pa on your avatar card or next to it, 1 paw on the indicated position on the credit track (equal to your avatar starting CP), and 1 pawn on the indicated starting position on the debt track (equal to your avatar starting debt). Place 3 pawns on the income track, the first on the 10 column, and the second on the l column. So, if you have 25 income, place the first on the 2 (on 10, representing 20) and the second on 5 (on 1, representing 5). The third pawn is used on the 100 column, but as your income is still 2 digits, so you must place it on 0 on the 100 column; all players receive the indicated starting 100 coins in any combination of coins; placing the phase marker on the first phase of the phase track on the board (event phase); and, the youngest player receives the first player token and plays the first turn. Players must decide if they want to play turns clockwise or anti-clockwise.

3. A method of playing a game involved with financial management which includes 5 phases during a single round including the event phase, income phase, life card phase, market phase, and scoring phase.

4. As per claim 3, a board game that involves multiple tracks including credit track, debt track and income track.

5. As per claim 3, The system of cards that allows players to tackle multiple situations during the game comprises: As per claim 3, asset cards that include a 1-star display, 2-star display, and 3-star display; As per claim 3, asset cards that include 1-star display 48 cards; As per claim 3, asset cards include 2-star display of 30 cards; As per claim 3, asset cards that include 3-star display 18 cards; As per claim 3, multiple types of life cards are included; As per claim 3, multiple types of Avatar cards are included; As per claim 3, multiple types of event cards included; and, As per claim 3, multiple types of money chips are included.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0032] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0033] The present invention is directed to a board game that portrays the simulation of real-life assets, credit, life and money matters.

[0034] The invention is a board game and a method of playing the board game for entertainment and educational purposes.

[0035] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game apparatus comprises a board with the credit, phase, and debt track. The game includes 166 cards wherein, 96 Asset Cards, are divided in 3 decks, categorized by the number of stars (1-3). These cards represent all the assets that players can acquire during the game. The 1-star deck has 48 cards, the 2-star deck has 30 cards, and the 3-star deck has 18 cards.

[0036] The 32 Life Cards as per its further embodiments are things that could happen through any phase of a person's life. May hold good or bad fortune. The 32 Event Cards are things that may happen to many people in any economy, society or country. The 6 Avatar Cards are a deck of cards that represent different people of varied backgrounds.

[0037] As per its further embodiments, the 30 Pawns represent the player on the board. There are 6 pawns per player, in 5 different player colors. Each player uses 1 pawn on the credit track, 1 on the debt track, 3 on the income track, and 1 on their avatar. 3-DiceRolling the dice determines the amount of money each player gains from their job each round. The 1 First player token, indicates the player who starts the round. The 100 Coins are game currency. (20?$1, 15?$5, 15?$10, 15?$20, 15?$50, 10?$100, 5?$200, 5?$500). The 1 Phase marker is used for tracking the round phase on the board.

[0038] As per its further embodiments, the board has 4 tracks. All players are represented on the tracks by their pawns. THE Credit track has 100 spots, which represent the credit level of each player. The higher spots have higher requirements, but allow players to buy higher star assets and roll more dice for income. The first player who reaches the final spot wins the game.

[0039] The Debt Track as per its further embodiments allows players to track their total debt on this track. It has tiers, so the price of debt changes, depending on your total debt number. The Income track allows players to track their total income on this track, by using up to 3 markers, so they won't have to calculate it every round. The track can count income with 3 digits, each column representing 100, 10 and 1.

[0040] The Phase Track as per its further embodiments, has 6 spots, 1 for each phase and 1 end phase spot. Indicates the active phase of each round, starting from the first (event phase). Use the phase marker to indicate the active phase. When a phase is complete, move the marker to the next phase. When the 5th phase ends, move marker to end phase. When a new round starts, place the marker on the 1st spot. Repeat for every phase/round, until the game is over.

[0041] As per its further embodiments, there is a coin token stack close to the board, which is the game bank, which serves for paying and being paid. When you buy assets or pay life cards, you must pay the coins to the bank, when receiving income, you must receive coins from the bank.

[0042] As per its further embodiments, the setup of the gane includes placing the board on the table. [0043] Shuffle the Life deck. Place face down near the board. [0044] Shuffle the Event deck. Place face down near the board. [0045] Shuffle the 3 Asset decks separately. Place each deck face down near the board. Reveal as many as the game dictates (see: assets), and place them on the play area around the board, as the asset display (9 cards in total: 4?1-star, 3?2-star, 2?3-star). [0046] Place the dice on the play area around the board. [0047] Place the coin tokens on the play area, this is the game bank. [0048] Shuffle the Avatar Deck and deal a random card to each player. [0049] Each player chooses 6 pawns of 1 color to represent them. [0050] Place your pawns: Place 1 pawn on your avatar card or next to it, 1 pawn on the indicated position on the credit track (equal to your avatar starting CP), and 1 pawn on the indicated starting position on the debt track (equal to your avatar starting debt). Place 3 pawns on the income track, the first on the 10 column, and the second on the 1 column. So, if you have 25 income, place the first on the 2 (on 10, representing 20) and the second on 5 (on 1, representing 5). The third pawn is used on the 100 column, but as your income is still 2 digits, so you must place it on 0 on the 100 column. [0051] All players receive the indicated starting 100 coins in any combination of coins. [0052] Place the phase marker on the first phase of the phase track on the board (event phase). [0053] The youngest player receives the first player token, and plays the first turn! Players must decide if they want to play turns clockwise or anti-clockwise.

[0054] As per its further embodiments, during a round, these 5 phases must be played in order which includes the event phase, income phase, life card phase, market phase, and scoring phase. A round ends when all players have taken a turn. The players must check the following: [0055] Life cards that are discarded at the round end must be discarded. Score CP if any. [0056] The first player token is moved to the next player. A new round is ready to begin.

[0057] As per its further embodiments, there are multiple types of tracks presented to users to assess their financial standings which includes credit track, debt tracking, and income track.

[0058] As per its further embodiments, there is Asset Deck cards that list assets both tangible and intangible. In order to acquire them, during the market phase, the player must pay a cost, which is listed on the card.

There are 3 decks, the 1, 2 and 3-star deck. Each deck has a range of costs/values of assets: [0059] 1. 1 Star Deck: Cost range of 10-50 coins. [0060] 2. 2 Star Deck: Cost range of 60-150 coins. [0061] 3. 3 Star Deck: Cost range of 160-300 coins.
There is a market display for each deck, with some revealed cards from each star deck, available for players to buy during their turn.

[0062] As per its further embodiments, the Avatars represent a set of characteristics of 6 different backgrounds. Each avatar has a unique ability and some starting resources. There are 6 avatar cards in the deck, 1 for each background. [0063] InvestorYou are inclined to finding promising projects and investing on them, so you do not have to work as an employee. You have a good eye and you can spot the bad deals from miles. You have a deep understanding of investment strategies, but you could use some improvement in your social and personal life. [0064] Super SocialYou are very social and can connect with people fast and easily. You know many people, and you circle of connections is wide. You can gain people's trust and your word is well respected. The problem is that you are not spending much quality time with yourself. [0065] Streetwise You grew up on the streets. Because of this, you learned to be wise beyond your years. You are ahead of the game in many ways, but not necessarily well educated. You have a deep understanding of all kinds of people, and you can see beyond people's masks. [0066] Hustler You did whatever it took to make ends meet. Absolutely anything, no matter how dirty, grimy or illegal. After a time it began to wear on your soul and you longed for a way out. You did a few last jobs to generate some funds, and you are working on leaving that life behind. [0067] EducatedYou are well educated, but you have not gathered many life experiences from the outside world. You have made wise financial choices so far, but you need to learn more about social and emotional connections with others. [0068] EntrepreneurYou have set up various businesses in the past, but none of them has proven to be very successful. You are still on the hunt for the next big idea, and you are determined to make it work this time, for good. You are very experienced in management and negotiation.
All avatar cards start the game with 100 coins and 1 debt, but may also affect life card repercussions. All avatars have a round income in coins, which they receive during their turn in the income phase.
Moreover, avatar cards have a unique ability, which they can use once during their turn, during the indicated phase. All avatars start the game from a position on the Credit Track, equal to their starting CP.

[0069] The Money chips or money tokens as per its further embodiments, represent the in-game currency and are used for all transactions between the players and the bank. Depending on their value, coins have colors as well. They come in these values: [0070] $1 (?20 tokens, bronze) [0071] $5 (?15 tokens, bronze) [0072] $10 (?15 tokens, silver) [0073] $20 (?15 tokens, silver) [0074] $50 (?15 tokens, silver) [0075] $100 (?10 tokens, gold) [0076] $200 (?5 tokens, gold) [0077] $500 (?5 tokens, gold)

[0078] As per its further embodiments, when a player reaches or passes the 100th space of the Credit track on the board, the game ends after the scoring phase of the ongoing round is over.

All players who pass 100, keep counting by using the track from the start (always add 100 to your number, so 3 means 103).
After the final round's scoring phase is over, all players must: [0079] Receive their asset and avatar income in coins. [0080] Pay out all of their debt in coins, lose 5 CP per unpaid debt. [0081] Resolve any remaining life cards, or lose 5 CP per unresolved life card and discard it without scoring. [0082] Score end game bonuses, in order to calculate their final CP.

[0083] While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, many variations are possible. With time, additional features may be employed. The particular shape or configuration of the platform or the interior configuration may be changed to suit the system or equipment with which it is used.

[0084] Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0085] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.