U.S. patent number 3,658,337 [Application Number 04/826,874] was granted by the patent office on 1972-04-25 for board game apparatus.
Invention is credited to Patrick T. Carlin, Ross Murray, Jack Peters, Lawrence F. Stoliker, James E. Williams.
United States Patent |
3,658,337 |
Peters , et al. |
April 25, 1972 |
BOARD GAME APPARATUS
Abstract
A board game comprising a map of a political entity, such as the
continental United States, bearing designations thereon of the
major cities and also of the major transportation routes between
such cities for various different modes of transportation. Two or
more alternate routes utilizing respectively different modes of
transportation are provided between adjacent cities. Each player is
provided with a plurality of tokens, each representing a different
form of transportation, and the objective of the game is to
traverse a devious route over the map from a given starting point
to a selected destination.
Inventors: |
Peters; Jack (Woodland Hills,
CA), Williams; James E. (Los Angeles, CA), Murray;
Ross (Calabasas, CA), Stoliker; Lawrence F. (Glendale,
CA), Carlin; Patrick T. (Newbury Park, CA) |
Family
ID: |
25247744 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/826,874 |
Filed: |
May 22, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/254;
273/256 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
3/00088 (20130101); A63F 3/0434 (20130101); A63F
3/00006 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
3/00 (20060101); A63F 3/04 (20060101); A63f
003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/130,131,134,135 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
525,521 |
|
Aug 1940 |
|
GB |
|
619,894 |
|
Mar 1949 |
|
GB |
|
277,689 |
|
Aug 1964 |
|
AU |
|
569,648 |
|
Aug 1958 |
|
BE |
|
1,139,866 |
|
Feb 1957 |
|
FR |
|
1,208,733 |
|
Sep 1959 |
|
FR |
|
599,206 |
|
Mar 1948 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Lowe; Delbert B.
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A board game for at least two players comprising in
combination,
a playing board having on its playing surface a map of a political
entity including a plurality of indicia representing respectively
different geographic locations and a plurality of route portions
between adjacent such locations which are each divided into a
multiplicity of spaces,
at least some adjacent locations being connected by a plurality of
route portions each bearing different indicia which are each
representative of respectively different modes of
transportation,
each of said plurality of route portions emanating from one said
adjacent location and terminating at the other said adjacent
location,
at least some of said locations being represented by a circuitous
closed loop track divided into a plurality of spaces each providing
a starting or termination point for a respective one of the route
portions emanating from such location,
at least one of said tracks on said playing board being provided by
a disc member whose center is located at the site of the
corresponding location,
means for rotatably securing said disc member to said playing
board,
said disc member having a peripheral portion divided
circumferentially into a plurality of spaces corresponding in
number to the number of routes emanating from said location,
said spaces being numbered in order for identification, whereby
said disc may be rotated to bring any numbered peripheral space
into alignment with any route leading into a corresponding
location,
at least one token for each player being distinctively marked for
the respective players,
and a means operable by each player in turn to indicate by chance
the number of spaces that said player may advance.
2. The combination of claim 1 in which a set of tokens is provided
for each player,
each of the tokens in a set being representative of a different one
of the modes of transportation indicated on said playing board,
and each set of said tokens being distinctively marked for the
different players.
3. The combination of claim 1 in which selected ones of said spaces
on the various route portions are distinctively marked and said
game further includes at least one plurality of cards for selection
of one thereof by a player who in the course of play lands upon one
of said distinctively marked spaces,
each said card including thereon a message giving specific
instructions to a player.
4. The combination of claim 3 which includes a plurality of said
cards for each of the different modes of transportation to thereby
permit a player whose token lands on one of said distinctively
marked spaces to select a card corresponding to the mode of
transportation then in use by such player.
5. The combination of claim 1 in which said map on said playing
board is divided into a plurality of political subdivisions,
said combination further including a set of transportation rights
cards, one for each said political subdivision, and each being
issuable to any player who is first to alight with his
transportation token upon the representation on said playing board
of a designated location within the respective political
subdivision,
each said card including thereon a schedule of taxes applicable to
use by players traversing the various transportation facilities of
that political subdivision and payable to the holder thereof.
6. The combination of claim 5 in which the map is a map of the
United States and the political subdivisions thereof are the states
of the United States with said designated locations comprising the
respective state capitals.
7. The combination of claim 5 which further includes a quantity of
facsimile money, a specified portion of which is distributed to the
players prior to the commencing of play,
each said transportation rights card indicating thereon its
purchase price.
8. The combination of claim 5 which also includes a plurality of
sets of markers, each set being distinctively marked for the
respective players,
each said marker being adapted for positioning by a player upon one
of said designated locations on said playing board to indicate
thereby his ownership of the transportation rights card for the
political subdivision in which such designated location is
located.
9. The combination of claim 1 in which at least one location is
indicated on said playing board by a semi-circular band which is
divided into a plurality of spaces each associated with a
particular route having a corresponding direction and mode of
transportation and emanating from said location,
said plurality of spaces being numbered in turn for
identification.
10. The combination of claim 9 in which the space between said
semi-circular band and the center thereof is subdivided by a series
of concentric arcs to provide thereby a plurality of successive
spaces leading inwardly from each numbered space to said center.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Board games in which a playing board is illustrated with a map of a
political entity, such as the United States, with various
transportation routes thereon, are known in the art. Commonly, the
objective of such a game is to travel between a selected starting
point and a destination, with the first player reaching the
destination declared as the winner. Such map board games provide
the advantage of not only supplying entertainment but having
educational value as well because of the geographical knowledge
that is imparted to the player.
The board game of the present invention is substantially different
from those known heretofore, and the differences are such as to
increase the enjoyment of playing and also to provide added
educational value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The map game of this invention comprises a flat surface member such
as a board, heavy-gauge plastic sheet, or the like, upon which is
imprinted, in adequately large scale, a map of a political entity
such as the continental United States. The map comprises such
details as the boundaries of the various states, the capital cities
of the various states, and more particularly illustrates the major
transportation routes throughout the country which link the major
cities. A particular feature of the invention is the disclosure on
the map of a plurality of routes emanating from each of the major
cities on the map, with the various routes representing
respectively different directions of travel out of that city and
also different modes of transportation. It is another feature that,
between any one city on the map and a nearby city, there may be a
plurality of routes, each one representing a different mode of
transportation, e.g., highway routes for motor vehicles, waterways
for boats, air routes for aircraft, and railroad lines for
passenger trains.
Each player is provided with a plurality of tokens, each
representing a different one of the possible modes of
transportation over the surface of the map, and each player is
required to traverse the board from one given point to another,
using any of a large number of devious routes and using, in the
course of the journey, any or all of the possible modes of travel.
More specifically, it is contemplated that the objective of the
game will be to travel from a starting point such as Los Angeles on
the map and to travel from there to New York City and thence back
again to Los Angeles.
Each player is provided with a specified quantity of play money of
various denominations before the commencement of play. A money bank
is provided, with one player acting as banker, and exchanges of
money take place in the course of the game between individual
players and the bank and also between players. After all the
players have traversed the board to the selected destination, the
player who has the most money wins the game.
It is another feature of the invention that a player, arriving at
any one city shown on the map with a particular token representing
a corresponding mode of transportation, may have the option of
leaving that same city on the same or with a different mode of
transportation. Thus, a player arriving at Kansas City on the map
with, for example, a train, may leave Kansas City in any one of a
plurality of different directions depending on the particular route
that is selected out of Kansas City, and with any one of a
plurality of different modes of transportation, depending again
upon the particular route selected.
Each of the route portions on the map between any two cities is
divided into a plurality of short segments, and the number of
segments that each player advances in turn is determined by chance,
as for example, by the turn of a spinner or the roll of a pair of
dice. Of course, if dice are used, the game rules will ordinarily
require that a player on at least some occasions will use a single
die to permit the possibility of obtaining a count of "one."
Certain of the route segments are distinctively marked, and a
player landing with his token upon a segment so marked is then
required to select a card from a group of cards related to the
particular mode of transportation then being used by that player.
The selected card will bear appropriate messages for the mode of
transportation in use and will provide instructions to the player,
which instructions will have the general effect of either
accelerating or retarding his progress across the board.
A still further feature of the game is the provision of a group of
"transportation rights" cards, one for each state, with each card
being purchasable from the bank by a player who first arrives, with
any of the various possible modes of transportation, at the state
capital for that state. Any player electing to purchase such card
thereafter has the right to charge any other player making use of
the transportation facilities of that state a specified sum as
designated on the state card.
The play money in the bank is further used to provide bonuses of
varying amounts to the players as they return to the starting point
of the game, i.e. Los Angeles. As stated above, the player who has
accumulated the greatest amount of money at the end of the game is
the winner, and it can thus be seen that the winner is not
necessarily the one who first completes the race back to the
starting point.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In describing the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an illustration of the playing board of the game of this
invention illustrating some, but not all, of the route portions
between the various cities on the map;
FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of a portion of the map of FIG. 1,
illustrating particularly the lay-out for the state of
California;
FIG. 2A shows the mechanical arrangement of a portion of the
map;
FIG. 3 is a detailed feature of the map of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 shows another detail of the map of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5-8 illustrate the different tokens which are used by
players, each token representing a different mode of
transportation;
FIG. 9 represents the play money which is used by the players;
FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate the opposite sides of a typical one of
the state cards;
FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate typical ones of the various penalty and
bonus cards which are provided for the several various modes of
transportation;
FIG. 12 is a representation of a spinner which may be used for
controlling by chance the number of spaces or route segments which
are moved by any one player on a given turn; and
FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative presentation for certain
selected cities which represent the objective of a player
traversing the board.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The board game of this invention, as generally described above,
comprises a playing board; a plurality of tokens for each of the
players, with each token representing a different mode of
transportation and with the group of tokens for each player
distinctively identified as by a particular color; a group of
cards, one for each state, bearing on one side information relevant
to the corresponding state and on the opposite side information as
to the cost of the card and the amount of the tax which may be
charged by the card owner for the use of the transportation
facilities of that state; a spinner or the like, a supply of
facsimile money; and a quantity of small discs (approximately 20)
for each player of a distinctive color preferably corresponding to
the color of the transportation tokens used by the respective
player.
The board for the game is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1.
The map shown in FIG. 1 may be printed upon a relatively stiff and
hard surface such as cardboard, plastic, or the like, or may
instead be imprinted upon a foldable plastic cloth. Irrespective of
the medium upon which the map is printed, it will hereafter be
designated as the "playing board."
FIG. 1 shows the playing board as having imprinted thereupon a map
of the United States showing the boundaries of each of the 48
states and illustrating also the major cities. Actually, because of
the limited scale of the map as illustrated in FIG. 1, only
selected ones of the cities and routes on the map are shown, but it
will be appreciated that the full-scale map upon which the game is
to be played will have sufficient detail so that it will illustrate
all of the state capitals and some of the major cities, and the
major transportation routes between the various cities including
highway routes, rivers and lakes, air routes, and railroad
lines.
FIG. 1 shows, for example, between Houston, Texas at 10 and New
Orleans, Louisiana at 11 a highway route 12 and also a rail line
13. Similarly, out of Seattle, Washington at 14 are shown routes in
various directions and comprising different modes of transportation
such as air route 15, highway route 16, rail line 17, and ship
route 18. It will be noted that each of the route portions between
any two cities is divided into a plurality of segments, each
segment representing the advance of a token representing a
particular form of transportation a single space from one city
toward the next.
Associated with certain ones of the spaces are specific
instructions which inform the player of what he is to do. For
example, as shown on the route portion between Miami and
Charleston, S.C., which cities are designated respectively at 19
and 20, is a sea route divided into a plurality of segments 21 and
associated with a particular one of these segments at 22 is a
representation of a space capsule with an accompanying legend
reading "Apollo Recovery -- Wait Three Turns." In a similar
fashion, on the air route between Houston and Miami designated at
23, a particular one of the route segments bears a representation
at 24 which directs the player's attention to a symbol of an
aircraft with the accompanying legend"Plane Hijacked To Cuba --
Forfeit Game."
FIG. 2 illustrates in substantially greater detail than does FIG. 1
the manner in which the map is prepared for each state. Thus, FIG.
2 illustrates the boundaries of the state of California and also
two cities thereof, the first being Los Angeles at 25 and the state
capital, Sacramento, at 26. Los Angeles, it will be recalled, is
the starting point of the game, and this city is represented by a
semi-circular band which is divided into a plurality of segments
numbered from 1 through 12. Sacramento, at 26, is one of the
plurality of state capitals on the map which may be provided with
an adjustable, rotatable member 27 which is affixed to the main
board member as by a staple 28 or the like (see FIG. 2A). Thus,
this circular member 27 may be rotated to any desired position so
that any one of the numbers from 1 through 12 printed thereon along
its annular circumferential portion may be aligned with any
incoming route portion. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the member 27 is
rotated so that the number 7 thereon is aligned with the route
portion 30 extending upwardly from the segment 2 associated with
the semi-circular band 25 which represents Los Angeles. However, it
will be appreciated that the member 27 may be rotated to any
desired position so that any of the 12 numbers thereon may be
aligned with the route portion 30.
FIG. 2 further illustrates, in considerably greater detail than
FIG. 1, the various routes which may emanate out of any city on the
map. For example, out of the square designated No. 6 for Los
Angeles, there is shown a highway route portion 31 extending
generally to the north, and an airline route is shown at 32 which
extends generally northeast from Los Angeles at square No. 7. At
No. 8 a northeastbound rail line is shown, and at No. 9 another
highway route is shown. Similarly, extending out of the segments 8
and 9 associated with the city of Sacramento at 26 are two waterway
routes designated as 33 and 34, respectively.
It will be noted that certain of the route segments are provided
with distinctive markings such as the rectangles 35 and 36 on the
route portion emanating out of the square No. 11 associated with
Los Angeles and also the distinctively marked circle 37 on the air
route emanating from the square No. 10, also at Los Angeles. As
will be later explained, these distinctively marked route segments
provide an indication to a player alighting thereon with the
particular transportation token then in use by him that he is to
select one of the bonus-penalty cards which are made available for
that purpose. These cards inform a player as to what he must then
do, and this generally involves his either moving ahead or
backward, losing a turn, receiving or paying money, etc. At certain
places on the map, a figure-eight pattern may be provided as shown,
for example, in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the figure-eight pattern is
provided for Fort Worth and Dallas. A player alighting on the
square 40, for example, and proceeding eastbound toward Fort Worth
may take the bypass comprising the squares 41a-41f over to the
square 42 which is east of Dallas. This route is shorter than the
one which must be taken by other players who do not land directly
on the square 40 and must therefore taken the figure-eight pattern
from square 40 to square 42. Any such player may proceed in either
direction around the figure-eight; for example, a player moving
from the square 40 may occupy the square 43 and then in succession
the squares 44a-44f, 45, and thence to 42. It will be apparent that
a player may also take the alternate route around the remainder of
the squares comprising the figure-eight pattern. In any event, a
player traversing the figure-eight between squares 40 and 42 will
be required, in effect, to take a longer route than if he happens
to alight upon the square 40 which permits him to take the bypass
route. It will, of course, be apparent that the same considerations
apply in the case of one proceeding westbound from square 42 to
square 40.
FIG. 4 illustrates the manner in which a city other than one of the
cities such as Sacramento in FIG. 2 may be designated on the map.
Thus, each such city comprises an annular designation of a
plurality of route portions, in the case of FIG. 4 comprising six
such portions and with each representing different routes into and
out of the respective city. Of course, more or less than six
portions may be used, and it is even possible to provide only two
portions corresponding to two routes leading into and out of a
city.
FIGS. 5-8 illustrate the different types of transportation tokens
which may be used by each player. Thus, at the beginning of the
game, each player is provided with four tokens of a particular
color such as those shown in FIGS. 5-8 and each representing a
different form of transportation. Thus, FIG. 5 is a small replica
of an airplane, FIG. 6 of a car, FIG. 7 of a boat, and FIG. 8 of a
train. From the description given thus far, it will be apparent
that each player will ordinarily use all of the tokens in the
course of a game, transferring from one form of transportation to
the other upon frequent occasions at the time of leaving one of the
designated cities on the map.
FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate the opposite sides of a
"transportation rights" card, one of which is provided for each of
the states of the continental United States. FIG. 10A shows one
side of such a card as bearing thereupon pertinent information
relative to the state of Kentucky. Thus, the information includes
the date the state was admitted to the Union, the nickname of the
state, its state flower, capital city, area, population, the names
of its largest cities, and the point of highest elevation in the
state. This information is provided thereupon primarily for
educational purposes as it is intended that players of the game
shall have their knowledge of the United States geography increased
by repeated playing. On the opposite side of each of the state
cards is information relative to the "transportation rights" for
the state of Kentucky. Information is also given as to the cost of
purchasing that card under rules which will be described
hereinafter. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10B, for the state of Kentucky,
the transportation taxes provide a highway tax of $15.00, a railway
tax of $20.00, an airline tax of $25.00, and a waterway tax of
$30.00. The different transportation taxes for the different states
may be different as will also the cost of purchasing the
transportation rights for any particular state.
FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate various types of penalty-bonus cards. FIG.
11A illustrates a typical such card to be used by one who is using
the railroad for transportation; FIG. 11B is for one using an
airplane; FIG. 11C for one using an auto; and FIG. 11D for one
using a boat. It will be noted that the instructions, as described
briefly above, generally involve a player losing a turn, going
backward or forward a prescribed number of spaces, etc.
FIG. 12 illustrates a spinner device which may be used by the
players in turn to designate the number of spaces that each must
move forward on each turn. Preferably, the spinner provides for a
count of from 1 through 12. It will be apparent that, instead of a
spinner, dice or the like may equally well be used; however, such
alternative means should preferably provide for the possibility of
obtaining a "one" count, especially at the beginning of the game to
ensure the possibility of use of the particular route out of Los
Angeles emanating from the No. 1 square.
FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative way of designating the two
destination cities on the map, i.e., Los Angeles and New York.
Thus, in FIG. 13, a generally semi-circular configuration is
employed, the same as illustrated in FIG. 2, but the arrangement is
such as to provide for a quite different way of computing the bonus
which is paid to players for arriving at their destination
city.
In the arrangement of FIG. 2, it will be recalled, the legend
within the semi-circular band for Los Angeles indicates that the
first player to arrive within the semi-circle was paid $1,000, the
second $500, etc. According to the arrangement of FIG. 13, each
player who arrives at a destination city such as either Los Angeles
or New York is provided with a bonus payment which is dependent
upon where one's token alights within the semi-circle. Thus, FIG.
13 shows that, within the outer semi-circular band, there are a
plurality of concentric semi-circles each representing a further
route segment extending inwardly toward the center dot 51 from the
arrival square on the outer semi-circular band.
For example, assume that a player is heading in toward Los Angeles
on the highway route leading into the square No. 6, and that such
player is then on the particular square designated 48. Assuming
that such player on his next turn spins the No. 8, he will then
land on the square No. 6 with the count of 3 and will use the
remaining five counts to count five semi-circles inwardly toward
the center dot. This will cause him to then alight upon the
semi-circle 49 which, as indicated, results in a bonus to the
player of $200.
As another example, assume that a player is on the particular
square designated 50 on the highway route leading into Los Angeles
at square No. 10. If this player then spins the number 12, this
will enable him to travel all the way inwardly and land upon the
inner circle 51, entitling him to the highest possible bonus of
$1,000. On the other hand, if such player instead spins the number
1, he will then land upon the square No. 10, and this will entitle
him to receive a bonus of only $10, corresponding to the number of
the square he is then on.
GAME RULES
The rules of the game are generally as follows:
Each player is provided with four tokens, each representing a
different possible mode of transportation and with the tokens
generally having the form shown in FIGS. 5-8. The transportation
tokens issued to any player are preferably all of the same
distinctive color to aid in identification of each player's
position on the board. Each player is also issued a supply of play
money as indicated at FIG. 9, and a quantity of discs which are
preferably of a color matching that of the transportation tokens
issued to such player. The discs are used, as hereinafter
described, to indicate the ownership of the transportation rights
cards for the various states.
The various state cards as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B are
preferably disposed about the playing board of FIG. 1, each state
card for a particular state being positioned preferably on the
state. Four different piles of penalty-bonus cards of the type
shown in FIGS. 11A-11D are also conveniently placed where they may
be drawn, one at a time, by the players as required.
Any suitable manner of selecting the first player to take a turn
may be employed such as by each player spinning the spinner of FIG.
12 and with the one who spins the highest number receiving the
right to the first turn. Thereafter, each player to the left is the
next to play.
The first player spins the spinner of FIG. 12 and moves from the
semi-circle designating Los Angeles in FIG. 2 in a direction and in
an amount corresponding to the number which he has spun. For
example, assuming that the first player spins the number 6, this
means that he will then move out of Los Angeles on the highway
route designated 31 and will move along that route six spaces in
accordance with the number which has been spun. Each player in turn
spins the spinner and selects the route and mode of transportation
in accordance with the number which has been spun. Thus, even at
the end of the very first turn, all the players may be moving in
different directions and on different forms of transportation away
from Los Angeles and toward the ultimate destination of the first
part of the trip which is New York.
When any player lands upon a darkened square or, in the case of a
rail or highway route, upon a circle which is encircled by a larger
circle as for example the designation 37 on the route leading out
of Los Angeles on square No. 10, such player is then required to
draw the top card of the pile of penalty-bonus cards for the
particular mode of travel which he is then employing. The player
places such card face down in front of him. At his next turn,
before playing, he turns up his card and complies with whatever
directions appear on the card.
Preferably, the various penalty-bonus cards for the different modes
of transportation are provided with different colors so that they
can be readily identified.
As a player moves across the map, he will enter the capitals of
various states. The first player to enter the capital of any one
particular state acquires the right to purchase the transportation
rights for that particular state.
Preferably, at the beginning of the game, all the state cards are
displayed on a rack in alphabetical order. When a player acquires
the right to purchase such card, he is given the appropriate card,
paying to the bank the cost thereof as designated on the card as
shown, for example, in FIG. 10B. The player then places within the
circle designating the state capital for that state one of the
distinctively colored discs to indicate thereby his ownership of
the transportation rights for that state.
It will be noted that the cost of the transportation rights of the
card of FIG. 10B is equal to twice the total value of the taxes for
the various forms of transportation for that same state. Of course,
any appropriate price may be assigned to the various state cards.
The person acquiring the transportation rights for any particular
state may thereafter, and as long as he retains such transportation
rights, assess the tax upon any player entering the state and using
the transportation facilities. Thus, assuming that a player is the
first to enter the capital of Kentucky and thereby acquires the
transportation rights card for that state as shown in FIG. 10B,
such player may thereafter charge any other player the amount of
$15 for using the highways of that state, and the similar amount of
the tax for the other forms of transportation as shown in FIG. 10B.
In the event that a transportation route, such as a waterway,
borders two adjacent states, e.g., the Mississippi River, any
player on such route is required to pay the transportation tax to
the players holding the transportation rights cards for both
states. In the event of a sea route, such as the one shown in FIG.
1 between Miami and Charleston, the player pays the transportation
tax only to the holder of the transportation rights card associated
with the state in which the destination port is located.
The first player to arrive at any particular state capital may
decline the right to buy the transportation rights, whereupon the
second player reaching the state capital may then buy the
transportation rights for one-half of the original price. If the
second player declines, then the third player to reach the state
capital may receive those rights free. In the event that any player
acquires the transportation rights for a particular state when
another player is already occupying that state, any such other
player must then pay immediately to the holder of the
transportation rights the tax for the particular form of
transportation he is then using.
The transportation rights or state cards may be sold by any player
who has acquired them to any other player at any price not
exceeding the cost stated on the card for such rights.
In the course of the game, a player who has purchased one or more
state cards may increase his money supply by selling any such cards
to the bank for one-half the stated purchase price. At the end of
the game, each player may add the value of the transportation
rights cards to his total money at hand to determine his net worth.
In doing so, each card is valued at the amount stated thereon as
the original purchase price even though the player may actually
have paid less than that amount. In addition, each player, at the
end of the game, is entitled to a further bonus dependent upon the
number of transportation rights cards that he then owns. For
example, a player may be awarded an extra $25.00 for owning two
such cards, $50.00 for three, $100.00 for four, etc.
Any time that a player reaches a particular city on the map
designated by a segmented circular portion as shown in FIG. 4, the
player may proceed in either direction around that circle and may
depart upon any square so that each player has the option, upon
arriving at any city, to leave that city upon any desired route and
with any desired form of transportation. Because of the
considerable number of routes which are available on the map
involving different directions and different modes of
transportation, a player must make a judicious choice as to the
square upon which he leaves any city after once having arrived
there. Thus, a player may readily determine that leaving upon a
particular square will, with the amount previously spun, cause him
to land upon a square or circle which requires the picking up of a
penalty-bonus card, and this possibility may cause a player to
deliberately take such route or, alternatively, to select another
route which may appear initially to be a less direct route toward
his ultimate destination but which, in his opinion, may eventually
result in his arriving there more quickly. Of course, it will
further be appreciated that the route which is selected by any
player is dependent, at least to some extent, upon his desire to
avoid traversing the transportation facilities of states whose
transportation rights are already held by adverse players, since
his avoidance of those states will eliminate the need for paying a
transportation tax upon traversing them. At the same time, a player
may desire to go considerably out of his normal route with respect
to his ultimate destination in order to be the first to enter a
state capital and thereby have the right to acquire the
transportation rights for that state, bearing in mind that the
overall objective of the game is to acquire the largest amount of
money, the winner being the one who has accumulated the greatest
amount of play money at the conclusion of the trip.
At certain of the state capitals, the player does not have the
option of going around the circle for that city in either clockwise
or counterclockwise direction and leaving upon any desired square
but is instead required to follow a particular routing. These are
the cities which, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, are provided with a
rotatable circular portion thereon as shown, for example, in FIG. 2
at 27. The element 27 has its peripheral portion divided into 12
segments each bearing a number from 1 through 12, and the element
27 may be rotated so that any particular number thereon may be
aligned with an incoming route to the city. For example, let us
assume that a player is on the particular square designated 51
which is on the route north of Los Angeles and is connected with
the square No. 2 for the Los Angeles semi-circular band. Assuming
further that such player has spun the number 10, he will have used
up six of those counts in reaching the square 52, whereupon he must
then rotate the circular element 27 so that the number 7 is moved
into position adjacent the square 52, and he will then complete his
count around the element 27 in clockwise fashion, thereby leaving
the capital city of Sacramento upon the square No. 10 which
designates the westbound air route. Having reached the square No.
10, the player then moves his transportation token to the
immediately adjacent square on that route so as to clear the
circular member 27 for other players.
In the event a player lands on any square or circle which is
already occupied by another player, the first player to occupy that
square or circle is required to spin again immediately and move his
token irrespective of whether or not it is his turn.
A player eventually traversing the continental United States and
arriving at New York will then enter within the New York City
semi-circular band and collect a bonus. In the event that the
destination shown in FIG. 13 is employed for both Los Angeles and
New York, it will be apparent that the amount a player is entitled
to upon reaching such destination city is dependent upon the extent
of his progress into the semi-circular band toward the center point
thereof, with the bonus amounting anywhere from $200 to $1,000.
Any player may land on a square or circle which has associated
therewith an arrow (not shown) which points in a particular
direction. In that event, the player must then follow the direction
designated by the arrow. This may require that a player actually
reverse his direction or that he take a particular branch route at
the location of a fork in the route, etc.
The playing board of FIG. 1 is illustrated as having thereon a map
which is limited to the continental United States. Of course, if
desired, any other political division may be employed, or there may
be added to the map representations of Alaska and Hawaii, or these
states may instead be provided in the form of separate playing
boards which may be positioned adjacent the main board which bears
the map of the continental United States.
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