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US006488283B1 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent N0.: (45) Date of Patent: Grundy (54) BOARD GAME (76) Inventor: 5,121,928 A * Vanessa Ellen Grundy, 2 Brook Street, Hartshorne, SWadlincoteDE11 7AH (GB) (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. (21) Appl. No.: 09/676,542 (22) Filed: Sep. 29, 2000 (30) Foreign Application Priority Data Sep. 29, 1999 US 6,488,283 B1 Dec. 3, 2002 6/1992 Salerno-Sonnenberg FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS GB GB GB GB 1275021 2076297 2139510 2210275 5/1972 12/1981 11/1984 5/ 1989 * cited by examiner Primary Examiner—Benj amin H. Layno Assistant Examiner—Vishu K Mendiratta (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—MacMillan, Sobanski & Todd, LLC (57) ABSTRACT (GB) ........................................... .. 9922898 Aboard game comprising: a board having marked thereon a (51) Int. Cl.7 ................................................. .. A63F 3/00 (52) (58) US. Cl. .............. .. Field of Search 273/253; 273/250 ........ .. 273/236, 242, plurality of positions representing features in a real and/or imaginary region of space and With paths betWeen the positions. A number of playing pieces are provided for use 273/243, 246, 253, 250, 251, 252, 254 by the respective players for movement along the paths in References Cited indicating means, such as dice, determines moves Which U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS may be made by the playing pieces. Randomly selectable (56) 4,395,044 A 4,504,061 4,575,095 4,695,056 4,804,190 4,946,169 5,037,111 A A A A A A 7/1983 Hula ........................ .. 273/253 * * * * * * 3/1985 3/1986 9/1987 2/1989 8/1990 8/1991 Michel Gaster Cornelson Hoffman Hoffmann Hoffmann accordance With rules of the game. A randomly operable indicating means, such as cards, are associated With at least some of the positions on the board for determining further factors associated With movement of the playing pieces. means for generating ramdom code and collecting of code by players to Win the game. 18 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 1 0f 22 US 6,488,283 B1 U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 2 0f 22 US 6,488,283 B1 U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 3 0f 22 US 6,488,283 B1 889 WORM HOLE SYMBOL Q WORM HOLE ZONE SYMBOL COD STAR LOCKED PRISM SYMBOL BLACK HOLE SYMBOL ASTEROID BELT SYMBOL @ SUN SPOT SYMBOL Fig. 3 U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 FIG 5?. FIG Sheet 4 0f 22 FIG US 6,488,283 B1 52 FIG Sb 6 Q @6) (9 @g U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 5 0f 22 US 6,488,283 B1 [5 [1 1 [61 L_—/ FIG 12§ i<. Lil M U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 SATURN ] This is your lucky planet. you gain a gift from‘? US 6,488,283 B1 Sheet 6 0f 22 SATURN Take Another Card You leave now but Saturn's icy rings make you land at (Choose a shuttle) 'l'itan-Titanions await. Prepare for Battle. FACT: This second largest planet orbits the Sun once every twenty nine Earth years. FACT: Saturn has the most rings 8: 21 moons, 2 moons are known as 'Sheperds' as they keep the rings in place. PLUTO midi 23;’ lu‘i?l'zplane" ACT: Pluto is the smallest planet in the Solar System URANUS ] Having reached the furthest planet, you take another card, collect Cosmic Carbon 8: leave now via Pluto Express FAC1‘: Pluto is smalller than the moon Titan dangerous time. URANUS “$231332 125‘?1323113“ dangerous time. leave at once. leave at once. »The Power” have mils-judged the Uranus tilt 8: you land at a FACT: There are rings round Uranus & at least 15 moons. FAC'l‘: First planet to be discovered ainc the use of the telescope. VENUS This is our lu lanet You gzin a gffltlfyfgom? FACT: A Venus day is longer than its year The Electric Dra on‘ of Venus greets you. ave now via Z.O. ' Continuos dry lightening FACT: Venusian surface temperatures can reach 1000 F FIG 12S U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 7 0f 22 MERCURY MERCURY This youra luckyI Piaget Youisgain glft I'OmFACT; Mercury ‘3 the 1198"“ P1!!!at US 6,488,283 B1 wgégdarttelnrgvlrn. FACT: Mercury, like Venue, has no moon: to our Sun. MARS MARS Take another Card. Excited Martians greet you with ak ' Le Marsqu 9*- z 0 ave now Via . proof of their existence. . “GT1 um h" a mum’ '°1°‘m°- (Olympus lens) 8: great red dust storms collect ZCC mar: Known as the Red Planet. an hu red am at noon and blue at sunset. NEPTUNE NEPTUNE Supersonic winds from the great dark spot ?y you Neptune's Scooter‘ Zooms you straight to Saturn. to Uranus FACT: N°Ptun° 11" the hm“- P1513‘at ‘Wind! 12001111911 at the 87°“ dark 3?“ ‘Fastest cloud FACT: A methane gas atmosphere gives Neptune its deep blue colour. (Gigantic Storm). FIG 122 CONTINUED U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 8 0f 22 FATE FATE NEARBY NOVA’ US 6,488,283 B1 ALLIEN ATTACK ' Battle or change direction. All crew need skin grafts. Miss A Go ' An erupting star. L _ ‘ / FATE L_ J FATE FATE ERRATIC ASTEROID ILLNESS Travel 4 Dark Years Scientist in a state of despair. FACT: The word asteroid means ‘like stars’ the name given because they shine. Travel 6 Dark Years. PHASE 2 You play a hand in the fate of the Universe. Will it close? Ask "The Powers That Be FACT: ‘Eldwin Hubble discovered the niveraeisexpanding. i Effects Matter Transmitter. Travel 2 Light Years. yers o! glowing gas u?ed into space h‘?mn FATE Unpredictable dark matter Anomalies in data reception. forces you into the nearest Land now at your nearest planet Black Hole. (ma 6) FIG 12g U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 US 6,488,283 B1 Sheet 9 0f 22 FATE FATE STELLAR WIND: ILLNESS: Echo from a distant blast causes temporary deafness Travel A Dark Year. to crew. 'h-avel 3 Dark Years. FATE FATE REMOTE QUASAR‘ BOK GLOBULES' Causes data interference Travel a Parsec. Travel 12 Dark Years. ‘The most powerful star like objects in the Universe. ‘Gas and dust being processed to form a star. FATE Betelgeuse' may explode. Travel 5 Parsecs. One 0! the largest star! in the Universe —17000 times brighter than the Sun FATE A space tunnel leads you 5 Light Years. FACT: Light travels through space at 188,000 miles per second. FIG 12g CONTINUED U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 FORTUNE ] Sheet 10 0f 22 (— \ FORTUNE 1 F—\ /—-\ r — / ' \ r— \ from the Universe. You have entered the constellation of your birth sign US 6,488,283 B1 FORTUNE You may ask a favour from the Universe. FORTUNE Majestic forces protect your shuttle. Ignore Lunar repairs Collect Cosmic Carbon. FACT: There are more stars in the Keep this card. (continuous use) Universe than grains of sand on every known beach. FORTUNE FORTUNE Quasar‘ Power (Cancels any instructions) Crew Member: ‘whirling mass of bright hot gas. near Super Massive Black Holes - - (ck’md Service um“) Keep this card. (To use twice) FORTUNE Sudden power surge speeds you to your destination. ROLE: Serves no purpose. FORTUNE Space regulations show you have been miss-treated. All shuttles consult 'The Powers That Be‘ to see it they pay you Cosmic Carbon. FIG 1251 CONTINUED U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 FORTUNE Save a favour from the universe! Sheet 11 0f 22 US 6,488,283 B1 T FORTUNE ] T T T FORTUNE Cancels a trl to the Green P anet. Keep this card. (Kay use after battle) FORTUNE Get out of Prism FREE! ( eadiate escape to ‘travel The Xl?% Keep this card. You gain 13.8.?‘ to make you free from illness / virus. ‘Essential space protection. Keep this card. (Continuous use) FORTUNE FORTUNE SUPER SOLAR WINDS: You find a rock of slate from a Uranus collision earlier in history and exchange it for 3CC. FORTUNE SHARETHEWEALTH Travel 3 Parsecs and collect Cosmic Carbon from all shuttles. Carry you to a planet of your choice. FORTUNE CLOSE COMET Collect a crew member from Crew Bank to help. FIG 'TZQ CONTINUED U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 12 0f 22 US 6,488,283 B1 DOOMED ] DOOMED SULAR WINDS DEIUBLE DESTINY Ask the Powers That Be! Carry you to level 3 of the Massive Black Hole.’ 11‘ Yes — take another card now + one next turn. If No — you are doom tree (The Event Horizon) ‘A gaping void in space that sucks in devours things that get too close. DOOMED SDLAR \v/INDS r— - ? \ i Carry you to Planet Krocl. ‘And may the Dork go with you’ Aliens Kidnap a crew member, and return them to another shuttle. (Aliens choice) DOOMED Space matter on your shuttle causes overload. Eject a crew member or pay Cosmic Carbon. l ] 1 DOOMED WANDERING DEBRIS Travel a Dark Year. DOOMED A comet has hit you. Go to a moon for a lunar repairs and take another shuttle to help. DOOMED Crooked aliens hover. Pay them off with 20C or battle. FIG ‘I22 U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 13 0f 22 DOOMED \ ' ( US 6,488,283 B1 DOOMED SEILAR WINDS Carry you to level 4 of the Mini Black Hole. A Supernova‘ propels you into the Oscillating Ellipse. FACT: The centre of a Black Hole is k ‘A colossal stellar explosion. celled The Singularity. k DOOMED ( J DOOMED Aliens take °V61‘.Y°111' shut'ue- A crew member is accidentally (Swap an crew with the Allen) jettisoned into space. DOOMED You have broken a space law. Pay Cosmic Carbon. FIG 12% CONTINUED U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 14 0f 22 US 6,488,283 B1 SUN SUN SDLAR FLARE ILLNESS: Sends crew temporarily colour Active zones erupt Helium gas blind. Land at Mars to recover illness. and your laughing crew send you to planet Krod. ‘Sudden burst of ultraviolet plasma. I'Aiul may the Dork go with you’ SUN SUN r—\'x SDLAR WINDS: Carry you to Titan. (Moon of Saturn) /— \ SUN STDRMm Spins you into the Star Locked Prism. ‘Vast clouds of plasma given oi! by the Sun. FACT: Sun storms occur every eleven years and help to clear space debris. SUN ILLNESSI Passing through Gamma Rays CDREINAL MASS EJECTIIJNIE your crew are bathed in Solar lumps melt heat sheild. radiation. Will you loose one? Go to a moon for Lunar Ask the ‘Powers That Be’ 'llejor eruption of exploding plasma repairs. (Aliens choice) You are on a dormant spot. It's a rich Sun this year. Well done! Collect Cosmic Carbon. nor: Ihen Galileo discovered sim Spots. FACl‘: Our Sun could hold a million it proved the sun was spinning. Earth sized planets inside it. FIG 12f U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 15 0f 22 US 6,488,283 B1 SUN SUN SDLAR FLARE ILLNESS: Sends crew temporarily colour Active zones erupt Helium gas blind. Land at Mars to recover illness. and your laughing crew send you to planet Krod. ‘Sudden burst of ultraviolet plasma. I'Aiul may the Dork go with you’ SUN SUN r—\'x SDLAR WINDS: Carry you to Titan. (Moon of Saturn) /— \ SUN STDRMm Spins you into the Star Locked Prism. ‘Vast clouds of plasma given oi! by the Sun. FACT: Sun storms occur every eleven years and help to clear space debris. SUN ILLNESSI Passing through Gamma Rays CDREINAL MASS EJECTIIJNIE your crew are bathed in Solar lumps melt heat sheild. radiation. Will you loose one? Go to a moon for Lunar Ask the ‘Powers That Be’ 'llejor eruption of exploding plasma repairs. (Aliens choice) You are on a dormant spot. It's a rich Sun this year. Well done! Collect Cosmic Carbon. nor: Ihen Galileo discovered sim Spots. FACl‘: Our Sun could hold a million it proved the sun was spinning. Earth sized planets inside it. FIG 12f U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 16 0f 22 US 6,488,283 B1 SUN SIJLAR WINDS‘! Carry you to Charon. (Moon of Pluto) ‘Constant stream of particles blown throughout Space from the Sun. SUN RAPTURE: You dream of gaining a planet card without travelling to it. Ask 'The Powers That Be’ (1! Yes collect a Planet card from any Planet) FACT: All planets in our Solar System orbit the Sun. It's the years of the Quiet Sun. You may ignore Sun and Jupiter Spots. Keep this card. (Continuous use) FACT: The Sun is a star. . SUN Nuclear powered particles soar across Space taking you with them to Travel The X-Miles. FIG 1L1‘ CONTINUED U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 17 0f 22 JUPITER US 6,488,283 B1 JUPITER Oceans of liquid Hydrogen You enter teh Jovian atmostphere at the correct angle. Aliens await — prepare to battle. ‘An ice moon with possible undergrcund 7 Travel a Parsec. FACT: A Parsec = 3.26 Light Years oceans. { JUPITER JUPITER \ — _ / { JUPITER ] [ JUPITER ; — _ ) [ JUPITER U_ J Unbeknown chemistries between Spiralling through Jupiters Zones 8: Belts catapult you into atmostphere you orbit the the X-Miles. planet and miss 2 turns. ACT: Jupiter has the greatest storms in the Solar System. FACT: Jupiter has at least 16 moons — 4 are the size of planets. They can last for 800 years. Churning Trojans‘ The King Gas Giant sucks you: you out to land at Ganymede‘ ‘Groups of asteroids lying in Jupite 'Jupiters largest moon. orbit. JUPITER ILLNESS shuttle. I Entering the Magnetosphere Go to a moon for lunar shock waves affect your crew, repairs. who send you to a Sun Spot. FACT: Jupiter shrinks a few millimetres each year; its famous Red Spot is half the size it was 100 years ago. FACT: Jupiter's intense magnetic field spans 7 million miles. FIG 129 U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 18 0f 22 \ US 6,488,283 B1 F JUPITER JUPITER Passing Comets: Having dodged radio-active Jupiter world destroys them and hurls you into the zones, you land at Callisto to rest. Star Locked Prism. FACT: Jupiter is twice the size a! all the FACT: Jupiter is mostly a gas planet but other planets put together. k its hard core centre is bigger than j JUPITER \ Earth. \ j JUPITER swallowed by a vortex of super heated ammonia, you consult the "Powers That BE’ for help. Jupiter is in conjunction with Saturn. This help, sends you direct to the planet. If yes - they help you to a place of n no _ you ?’a‘ga?‘?e'uke “other FACT: 13ml- could hold 1000 Earth car‘L ed planets inside it. \ J W \ J F A confused whirlwind in the Great Red Spot‘ sweeps you to Centrifugal forces. from Jupiters rapid rate of spin, make you your destination. land at Lo. ‘A hurricane 3 times the size of Earth. FACT: Moon [.0 is completely covered in > \ volcanoes. J k 1 FIG 129 CONTINUED U.S. Patent Dec. 3, 2002 Sheet 19 0f 22 US 6,488,283 B1 GREEN PLANET] GREEN PLANET CREW MEMBER Green House Wicked Aliens KEEP a crew member for experimentery use. ROLE: Unlucky. Must be dumped. (Aliens Choice) [GRE N PLANET] [GRE N PLANET Green suits you. Travel a Perseo. To depart safely you must be slow & throwr a “one” to leave next go. (5 chances per turn) [GREEN PLANET GREEN PLANET} CREW MEMBER Mad Scientist ' ' (D1splay thls card) Eccentric virus sends your Scientists mad. 0n landing your controls lock on 2.0. Leave immediately. ROLE: Renders Scientist dormant. Must be dumped. [GRE N PLANET] Members_ GREEN PLANET Alien Message: Do not return to our Planet. Keep this card. (Aliens (melee) FIG 12h