U.S. patent application number 11/521914 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for educational simulation game and method for playing.
Invention is credited to Regan Michael Ross.
Application Number | 20070063433 11/521914 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37883294 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070063433 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ross; Regan Michael |
March 22, 2007 |
Educational simulation game and method for playing
Abstract
An educational simulation game is provided, comprising: a
quantity of game money for use during play of the game; a game map
comprising multiple adjoining game tiles representing elements of a
country, comprising wilderness tiles, residence tiles, and business
tiles, wherein each tile may be acquired by a player of the game,
and wherein each tile represents at least a benefit or a cost to an
acquiring player; a constitution comprising principles for
governing collective game play by multiple players; and a plurality
of hidden agendas, comprising one or more objectives, wherein each
player is assigned a hidden agenda.
Inventors: |
Ross; Regan Michael;
(Surrey, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Regan Ross
29-15068 58th Avenue
Surrey
BC
V3S 9J9
CA
|
Family ID: |
37883294 |
Appl. No.: |
11/521914 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60718032 |
Sep 16, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2003/00066
20130101; G09B 19/18 20130101; A63F 3/00138 20130101; A63F 3/00063
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/236 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/00 20060101
A63F003/00 |
Claims
1. An educational simulation game comprising: a quantity of game
money for use during play of the game; a game map comprising
multiple adjoining game tiles representing elements of a country,
comprising wilderness tiles, residence tiles, and business tiles,
wherein each tile may be acquired by a player of the game, and
wherein each tile conveys at least a benefit or a cost to an
acquiring player; a constitution comprising principles for
governing collective game play by multiple players; and a plurality
of hidden agendas, comprising one or more objectives, wherein each
player is assigned a hidden agenda.
2. The educational simulation game according to claim 1
additionally comprising a plurality of wildcards, wherein each
wildcard comprises an announcement and positive or negative
consequences to a player receiving the wildcard.
3. The educational simulation game according to claim 1
additionally comprising economic units wherein economic units are
produced by business tiles.
4. The educational simulation game according to claim 1 wherein
wilderness tiles comprise greenspace tiles and river tiles.
5. The educational simulation game according to claim 1 wherein
residence tiles comprise mansion tiles, house tiles, and apartment
tiles.
6. The educational simulation game according to claim 1 wherein
business tiles comprise one or more of: energy/industry tiles, farm
tiles, healthcare tiles, education tiles, security tiles, insurance
tiles, technology tiles, arts and entertainment tiles, and
transportation tiles.
7. The educational simulation game according to claim 1 wherein the
game is configured for play in a classroom setting and the game
players are students.
8. The educational simulation game according to claim 1 wherein the
game is configured for online delivery over a computer network.
9. The educational simulation game according to claim 6 wherein
each game tile comprises at least one of images and symbols
representing the type of game tile.
10. The educational simulation game according to claim 1 wherein
the object of a player is to earn status points during game play,
and wherein status points may be earned by one or more of: earning
well-being points during game play, accomplishing objectives of an
assigned hidden agenda, and performance and/or participation in
game play in a classroom setting.
11. A method of playing an educational simulation game comprising:
providing a game map, comprising multiple adjoining game tiles
representing elements of a country, comprising wilderness tiles,
residence tiles, and business tiles, wherein business tiles produce
economic units; providing an initial amount of game money to each
player; establishing a constitution comprising principles for
governing collective game play; assigning a hidden agenda to each
player; auctioning game tiles to be acquired by game players in
exchange for game money; conducting a legislative session to
establish additional principles for game play; conducting a
judicial session to enforce principles for game play; conducting an
executive session to execute duties of a collective government
comprised of all players; and conducting an economic session
wherein players may buy, sell or trade game tiles or economic
units.
12. The method according to claim 11 additionally comprising
conducting an international session to interact with a separate
second educational simulation game being played
contemporaneously.
13. The method according to claim 11 additionally comprising
determining a number of status points earned by each player.
14. The method according to claim 11 additionally comprising
distributing wildcards to one or more players.
15. A graphical user interface for playing an educational
simulation game comprising: a game map pane displaying a game map
comprising multiple adjoining game tiles representing elements of a
country, comprising wilderness tiles, residence tiles, and business
tiles; a constitution pane displaying a constitution comprising
principles for governing collective game play by multiple game
players; a status summary pane displaying a player status summary
for each game player; and a discussion forum pane displaying a
discussion forum for interaction between game players.
16. The graphical user interface according to claim 15 wherein the
graphical user interface is adapted for playing an education
simulation game by a classroom comprising multiple student game
players.
17. The graphical user interface according to claim 15 wherein a
player status summary comprises a list of game tiles and economic
units acquired a each player, a list of game tiles and/or economic
units a player wishes to buy, sell or trade, and a total of status
points earned by a player.
18. The graphical user interface according to claim 15 wherein the
graphical user interface is configured for online delivery over a
computer network.
19. The graphical user interface according to claim 18 wherein the
computer network comprises a central hosting computer, and at least
one remote client computer.
20. The graphical user interface according to claim 19 wherein the
at least one remote client computer comprises one or more of: an
instructor computer in a classroom and a student computer in a
classroom.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELA TED APPLICA TIONS
[0001] This application claims priority benefit of commonly owned
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/718,032 filed Sep. 16,
2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to games, and more
particularly to educational simulation games.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Examples of educational games are known in the art for the
purpose of teaching a particular concept or skill to a student
through playing a game. Educational board games are known which are
directed towards teaching specific skills such as reading or
arithmetic. Similarly, educational games for use in a classroom
setting are known in the art, and may typically allow for multiple
students to play at once in order to learn a particular topic or
skill taught by the game.
[0004] Examples of simulation games are also known in the art, many
of which are directed towards entertainment purposes. Some known
simulation games allow game players to simulate different
situations or environments, which may be realistic or fanciful.
However, many such simulation games are limited in the degree to
which they may be applied in an educational setting. In addition,
many educational and simulation games known in the art are unable
to provide a realistic simulation of complicated real-world world
scenarios such as the functioning of a modern democratic country or
nation, which may be suitable for educational purposes, such as in
a classroom setting.
[0005] Consequently, it would be desirable to provide an
educational simulation game that simulates the functioning of a
country, such as may be suitable for use in a government, economics
or civics educational course.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An educational simulation game is provided in one embodiment
of the present invention, comprising: a quantity of game money for
use during play of the game; a game map comprising multiple
adjoining game tiles representing elements of a country, comprising
wilderness tiles, residence tiles, and business tiles, wherein each
tile may be acquired by a player of the game, and wherein each tile
represents at least a benefit or a cost to an acquiring player; a
constitution comprising principles for governing collective game
play by multiple players; and a plurality of hidden agendas,
comprising one or more objectives, wherein each player is assigned
a hidden agenda. The educational simulation game may be adapted to
simulate aspects of the operation of a democratic country,
including one or more of governmental, legal, economic and societal
aspects.
[0007] In a further embodiment of the present invention a method of
playing an educational simulation game is provided, comprising:
providing a game map, comprising multiple adjoining game tiles
representing elements of a country, comprising wilderness tiles,
residence tiles, and business tiles, wherein business tiles produce
economic units; providing an initial amount of game money to each
player; establishing a constitution comprising principles for
governing collective game play; assigning a hidden agenda to each
player; auctioning game tiles to be acquired by game players in
exchange for game money; conducting a legislative session to
establish additional principles for game play; conducting a
judicial session to enforce principles for game play; conducting an
executive session to execute duties of a collective government
comprised of all players; and conducting an economic session
wherein players may buy, sell or trade game tiles or economic
units.
[0008] In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, a
graphical user interface for playing an educational simulation game
is provided, comprising: a game map pane displaying a game map
comprising multiple adjoining game tiles representing elements of a
country, comprising wilderness tiles, residence tiles, and business
tiles; a constitution pane displaying a constitution comprising
principles for governing collective game play by multiple game
players; a status summary pane displaying a player status summary
for each game player; and a discussion forum pane displaying a
discussion forum for interaction between game players.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a game map according to an embodiment of
the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary constitution according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary hidden agenda according to
an embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary wildcard with a positive
consequence according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary wildcard with a negative
consequence according to another embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a series of game playing processes
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface for
implementing a computer delivered embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The present invention may be more completely understood
through the description of several embodiments below, with
reference to the above-described drawings.
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary game map 100 according to an
embodiment of the invention, comprising multiple adjoining game
tiles, and suitable for playing an educational simulation game
according to the invention. The multiple adjoining game tiles of
game map 100 represent elements of a country as simulated by the
educational simulation game of the invention. More particularly,
game map 100 comprises: wilderness tiles comprising river tile 116
and greenspace tile 122, residence tiles comprising apartment tile
114, house tile 120 and mansion tile 112, and business tiles
comprising energy/industry tile 106, farm tile 126, healthcare tile
102, education tile 104, security tile 110, insurance tile 108,
technology tile 118, and arts and entertainment tile 124. A game
map according to an embodiment of the invention may also comprise
additional types of game tiles representing additional elements of
a country such as transportation tiles (not shown).
[0018] In an embodiment of the invention, the game tiles comprised
in game map 100 may be acquired by a player of the educational
simulation game such as by buying, selling or trading of the game
tile. Additionally, each game tile conveys at least one of a
benefit or a cost to an acquiring player, such as an expense of
money, or economic units, or a benefit of economic units, money, or
game points, for example. In a further embodiment, each game tile
may comprise an image and/or symbol representing the type of game
tile.
[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, economic
units may be produced by a business game tile, such as
energy/industry units produced by an energy/industry tile 106, food
units produced by a farm tile 126, healthcare units produced by a
healthcare tile 102, education units produced by an education tile
104, for example. Additional types of economic units comprise
insurance units, produced by an insurance tile 108, technology
units produced by a technology tile 118, and arts and entertainment
units produced by an arts and entertainment tile 124. The number of
economic units produced by a given type of game tile, and the rate
at which such economic units are produced during game play may be
varied according to factors such as the intended length of the
game, the number of players, or the intent of the game, for
example.
[0020] In yet another embodiment of the invention, multiple
subtypes of one type of game tile may have greater or lesser value
in a game to a player than another subtype. For example, a mansion
tile 112 which is a subtype of residence tile may have greater
value in a game than a house tile 120, which may have a greater
value in a game than an apartment tile 114. Relative values of game
tile types and subtypes may be determined according to any suitable
factor, such as the number of subtypes of game tile, the number of
players in a game, and the intended length of the game, for
example. Further, while each type and subtype of game tile may
convey a benefit and/or a cost to a player that acquires the game
tile, certain types of game tiles, such as wilderness tiles
comprising river tiles 116 and greenspace tiles 122 may provide a
collective benefit to all players, or to all players acquiring a
game tile adjacent to the collective benefit game tile on the game
map 100. Additionally, some types of economic units produced by
business tiles may comprise essential economic units that may be
required to be consumed in order for a benefit (such as an economic
unit) to be realized from another game tile. For example, an
energy/industry economic unit may comprise an essential economic
unit, which must be consumed by another game tile such as a farm
tile, in order to produce food economic units from the farm tile.
Similarly, residence game tiles may require the consumption of both
energy/industry economic units and food economic units in order to
afford shelter, which represents the benefit of a residence game
tile to an acquiring player.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary constitution 200 according
to an embodiment of the present invention. The constitution 200
comprises principles 202, 204, 206, 208 and 210 for governing
collective game play by multiple players. More particularly,
constitution 200 comprises one or more principles governing
production and/or maintenance of game elements 202, such as game
tiles, economic units, etc. Constitution 200 further comprises one
or more principles governing distribution of game elements and/or
game money between players 204, one or more principles governing a
legislative process for creating, changing and/or removing
additional game principles 206, one or more principles governing
execution of game principles and how decisions are made during game
play 208, and one or more principles governing judgement and
enforcement of game principles 210.
[0022] According to another embodiment of the invention, a
constitution 200 suitable for use in the educational simulation
game of the invention may typically comprise two principles for
each of 202, 204, 206, 208 and 210. In one embodiment, such
principles comprising constitution 200 may be established in
advance by an instructor or other facilitator of game play.
Alternatively, such principles may be established at the outset of
game play by one or more players, such as by discussion and
consensus and/or majority voting.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary secret agenda 300 according
to an embodiment of the present invention. Secret agenda 300
comprises hidden agenda description or identification 302. Multiple
secret agendas may exist for use in the educational simulation game
of the invention, which may be described or identified such as
socialist, capitalist, anarchist, for example. Secret agenda 300
further comprises hidden agenda criteria 304, 308 and 312, and
corresponding point values 306, 310 and 314. Secret agendas may be
assigned to players in the educational simulation game of the
present invention to provide objectives for the players to attempt
to achieve through their participation in the game, as defined by
hidden agenda criteria. If a player achieves an objective of a
hidden agenda by fulfilling one or more hidden agenda criteria
during game play, they may be awarded a point value corresponding
to the fulfilled hidden agenda criterion. Typically, hidden agenda
criteria on a single hidden agenda may be oriented toward a common
idealogical theme, which may be summarized by the hidden agenda
description. Further, it may typically be an objective of players
of the educational simulation game of the invention to achieve
points during game play, such as by fulfilling hidden agenda
criteria assigned to them as part of their hidden agenda. In one
embodiment, such points may be referred to as status points.
[0024] FIG. 4A illustrates a wildcard 400 according to an
embodiment of the invention comprising wildcard announcement or
description 401, and positive wildcard consequences 402. FIG. 4B
illustrates a second wildcard 405 according to another embodiment,
comprising wildcard announcement or description 406, negative
wildcard consequences 408 and wildcard consequence prevention
identifier 410. In an optional embodiment of the present invention,
wildcards may be distributed to one or more game players, such as
by pseudorandom means such as drawing of a card, or automatic
pseudorandom distribution. Upon receipt of a wildeard by a player,
the announcement of the wildcard typically describes a hypothetical
occurrence or situation related to the educational simulation game
of the invention, and the consequences of the announcement on the
receiving player related to game play. The resulting positive or
negative consequences of the wildcard may the be effected by or on
the receiving player, such as receiving (positive consequences) or
losing (negative consequences) a specific amount of game money, or
game points such as status points. In another embodiment, wildcards
comprising a negative consequence may identify a game element such
as a type of economic unit that may be consumed to prevent the
negative consequence of the wildcard upon the player. For example,
in the case of wildcard 405 announcing that a player's residence
unit has burnt down, negative consequences of losing game money and
status points 406 may be prevented by the consumption of an
insurance economic unit identified as consequence prevention
410,
[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary series of game playing
processes according to an embodiment of the invention. The game
playing processes of FIG. 5 comprise pre-game processes 500, game
round processes 502, and inter-round processes 504. The educational
simulation game according to an embodiment of the present invention
may typically be divided into multiple similar or repeating rounds
of play. Pre-game processes 500 may typically be completed prior to
the start of the first of multiple rounds of game play. Game round
processes 502 may typically be completed during each round of game
play, and inter-round processes 504 may optionally be completed in
between each round of game play.
[0026] Pre-game processes 500 comprise the game playing processes:
providing a game map comprising games tiles representing elements
of a country 506, providing an initial amount of game money to
players 508, establishing a constitution comprising principles for
governing collective game play 510, assigning a hidden agenda to
each player 512, and auctioning game tiles to be acquired by
players for game money. In one embodiment, pre-game processes 506,
508 and 512 may typically be completed by an instructor or
facilitator of the educational simulation game prior to the first
round of game play, while pre-game processes 510 and 514 may
typically be collectively completed by all players of the game
prior to the first round of game play.
[0027] Game round processes 502 comprise the game playing
processes: conducting a legislative session to establish additional
principles for game play 516, conducting a judicial session to
enforce principles for game play 518, conducting an executive
session to execute duties of collective government comprised of all
players 520, conducting an economic session wherein players may
buy, sell or trade game tiles or economic units 522, and may
optionally comprise conducting an international session to interact
with another contemporaneous game 524. In one embodiment, game
round processes 502 may typically be repeated for as many rounds of
game play as desired, such as is shown by arrow 528 in FIG. 5. In
another embodiment, all players of the game may typically
participate in each of the game round processes 502 to complete
each game round process one per round of game play. For example, in
a legislative session conducted in process 516, players may
collectively propose, approve (such as by democratic voting), and
establish additional principles (in addition to those in a
constitution which are typically overarching or guiding principles
for the larger context of game play simulating the affairs of a
country). Similarly, for example, in an economic session conducted
in process 522, players may bargain with one or many other players
to buy, sell and/or trade game tiles or economic units related to
achieving each player's goals for game play, such as to fulfil
hidden agenda criteria for example.
[0028] Optional inter-round processes 504 comprise the optional
game playing processes: determining the number of status points
earned by each player 526, and distributing wildcards to one or
more players 528. In one embodiment, optional process 526 may
comprise assessment of hidden agenda objectives to determine
fulfilment of hidden agenda criteria, and associated earned status
points, as well as tallying status points from each player earned
according to relative performance in the game (such as may be
determined by a secondary point system internal to game play during
game round processes, referred to as well-being points according to
one embodiment), and according to performance in collective game
process activities like establishing a constitution or conducting a
legislative session for example (assessment of such performance may
be determined by an instructor or game facilitator).
[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface
(GUI) 600 for implementing a computer delivered embodiment of the
inventive game. GUI 600 comprises multiple panes or windows for
displaying information relating to playing the educational
simulation game of the present invention, and is adapted for
display on a computer, and for delivery to a displaying computer
over a computer network. In one embodiment, GUI 600 comprises game
map pane 604, constitution pane 610, status summary pane 602 and
discussion forum pane 608. In an optional embodiment of the
invention, GUI 600 additionally comprises optional teacher-student
discussion forum pane 606, and judicial law pane 612. Game map pane
604 displays a game map comprising multiple adjoining game tiles
representing elements of a country, comprising wilderness tiles,
residence tiles, and business tiles. Constitution pane 610 displays
a constitution comprising principles for governing collective game
play by multiple players. Status summary pane 602 displays a player
status summary for each game player. In one embodiment, a player
status summary comprises a list of game tiles and economic units
acquired a each player, a list of game tiles and/or economic units
a player wishes to buy, sell or trade, and a total of status points
earned by a player. Discussion forum pane 608 displays a discussion
form for interaction between game players.
[0030] According to a further embodiment, GUI 600 is adapted for
online delivery of the educational simulation game of the present
invention over a computer network. In another embodiment, GUI 600
may be adapted for playing the educational simulation game
according to the invention by a classroom, comprising multiple
student game players. According to another embodiment of the
invention, a computer network suitable for online delivery of an
educational simulation game utilizing GUI 600 may comprise a
central hosting computer, and one or more remote client computers.
In one exemplary such computer network, the one or more remote
client computers may comprise an instructor computer adapted for
use by a teacher or instructor administering game play, or a
student computer adapted for use by a student game player.
Alternatively, the central hosting computer may be an instructor
computer, and the one or more remote client computers may be
student computers.
[0031] The present invention has been described above with
reference to certain exemplary disclosed embodiments. The scope of
the present invention is not to be limited to those particular
embodiments used as examples to illustrate aspects of the
invention, but rather should be considered with respect to the
following claims.
* * * * *