Amusement devices: games – Board games – pieces – or boards therefor – Electrical
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-16
2001-04-24
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Board games, pieces, or boards therefor
Electrical
C273S236000, C463S011000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220595
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally pertains to games and is particularly directed to games in which a plurality of players manage playing pieces in accordance with a set of rules.
In various games there are rules involving movement of playing pieces on a game board and additional rules for resolving confrontations that occur upon movement of a playing piece of a first player to a space on the game board occupied by a playing piece of a second player. Examples of rules for resolving confrontations that occur when the playing piece of the first player is moved to the space occupied by the playing piece of the second player are rules that cause the second player's playing piece to be either acquired by the first player, removed from play, or moved to a different space on the game board. In some games the movement of the playing pieces on the game board involves an element of chance. Also, some games, such as poker, include rules involving acquisition of property-type playing pieces, such as poker chips, by one player from another player in accordance with an element of chance. Typically, the element of chance involves using such random-output apparatus as dice, cards or a spinable-pointer-and-dial apparatus.
In addition to being embodied in such apparatus as a game board and playing pieces, games are also embodied in computer readable storage media for use with a computer, wherein a computer readable storage medium programs the computer for controlling a game displayed on a computer monitor during which a plurality of players manage playing pieces in accordance with a set of rules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method of playing a game during which a plurality of players manage playing pieces in accordance with a set of rules, including a first variable rule that is more favorable to a first player than to a second player at least once during the course of the game; and a change-enabling rule that enables the second player to change the first variable rule upon occurrence of a predetermined condition during the course of the game so that the first variable rule becomes more favorable to the second player.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of playing a game during which a plurality of players manage playing pieces in accordance with a set of rules, including a first rule involving movement of the playing pieces on a game board; and a second rule for resolving a confrontation that occurs upon movement of a playing piece of a first player to a space on the game board occupied by a playing piece of a second player; wherein the second rule involves an element of chance for resolving said confrontation.
The present invention also provides a computer readable storage medium for use with a computer, wherein the computer readable storage medium programs the computer for controlling a game displayed on a computer monitor during which a plurality of players manage playing pieces in accordance with a set of rules, including a first variable rule that is more favorable to a first player than to a second player at least once during the course of the game; and a change-enabling rule that enables the second player to change the first variable rule upon occurrence of a predetermined condition during the course of the game so that the first variable rule becomes more favorable to the second player.
In another aspect, the present invention also provides a computer readable storage medium for use with a computer, wherein the computer readable storage medium programs the computer for controlling a game displayed on a computer monitor during which a plurality of players manage playing pieces in accordance with a set of rules, including a first rule involving movement of the playing pieces on a game board; and a second rule for resolving a confrontation that occurs upon movement of a playing piece of a first player to a space on the game board occupied by a playing piece of a second player; wherein the second rule involves an element of chance for resolving said confrontation.
The present invention further provides game apparatus, comprising playing pieces; and a tangible medium of expression reciting a set of rules for playing a game during which a plurality of players manage playing pieces, wherein the set of rules includes a first variable rule that is more favorable to a first player than to a second player at least once during the course of the game; and a change-enabling rule that enables the second player to change the first variable rule upon occurrence of a predetermined condition during the course of the game so that the first variable rule becomes more favorable to the second player.
Additional features of the present invention are described with reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4173347 (1979-11-01), Field, II
patent: 4299391 (1981-11-01), Silver
patent: 5188369 (1993-02-01), Lowenton
patent: 5494295 (1996-02-01), Potter et al.
patent: 5657988 (1997-08-01), Kavounas
patent: 5855372 (1999-01-01), Thiemann
Callan Edward W.
O'Neill Michael
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