Drug awareness game and method for playing

• US 5,350,179 A
• Filed: 08/10/1993
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Evelyn J. Lloyd
• Original Assignee: Evelyn J. Lloyd
• Inventors: Johnson, David P., Hill, Ronald D., Marglon, Adam G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoll, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/105,332
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 273/236, 273/242, 273/243, 273/248, 273/249
• US Class Current: 273/249
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00138 Board games concerning voting, political or legal subjects; Patent games

Abstract

A board game apparatus (10) wherein players assume the identities of police officers and fight the war against crack cocaine. Board game apparatus (10) is divided into a first main region (24), a second main region (26), a third main region (28) and a fourth main region (30) wherein a pathway (52), communicates between the four main regions. Pathway (52) in first main region (24) has a plurality of playing positions wherein a player must obtain a plurality of prerequisite items for fighting the war on crack cocaine, such as a bulletproof vest, a task force, armaments, a police badge and a search warrant. Pathway (52) in second main region (26), third main region (28) and fourth main region (30) contain playing positions which give instructions, give information, give both information and instructions, designate barricade positions, designate neutral positions, require the drawing of cards, or the like. Additionally board game apparatus (10) includes a set of guidance cards (14) for guiding the movements of players and a set of guilt determination cards (16) for determining the guilt or innocence of a plurality of criminals existing in the game. A police chart (18) allows players to monitor their progress while playing the board game apparatus (10).

Claims

1. A board game apparatus, comprising:

(a) a playing board including;

(i) a start position and an end position,

(ii) a pathway extending about the surface of said playing board between said start position and said end position, said pathway divided into a plurality of side by side shapes defining playing positions, each playing position representing point values or giving information or giving instructions or requiring the taking of a card or designating a neutral position or designating a barricade position,

(iii) a plurality of said playing positions adjacent to said start position identifying a plurality of prerequisite items;

b) a police chart, said police chart having means for monitoring a tally of points;

(c) a game piece corresponding to a player, said game piece movable in a player'"'"'s turn a selected number of playing positions upon said pathway;

(d) a random number generator for selecting the number of playing positions said game piece must move.

2. The board game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said playing board has a dividing means for dividing said playing board into a plurality of main regions, said pathway extending through said main regions.

3. The board game apparatus of claim 2, wherein a first of said main regions includes said start position, said first main region further including said plurality of playing position identifying said plurality of prerequisite items.

4. The board game apparatus of claim 3, wherein a plurality of subregions are disposed upon said playing board, said subregions representing player holding zones or identifying prerequisite items or representing drug prevention indicia, or representing spaces for the placement of cards.

5. The board game apparatus of claim 4, wherein said police chart has means for identifying point values awarded for confiscating a plurality of contraband items, point values awarded for convicting a plurality of criminals, point values awarded for taking a plurality of hostages and point totals required to obtain a plurality of police tools, said police chart further having means for monitoring the amount of contraband items confiscated, amount of criminals convicted, amount of total points obtained, amount of prerequisite items obtained, amount of hostages taken, and amount of police tools obtained, said police chart further having means for identifying the player as a police officer.

6. The board game apparatus of claim 5, wherein a one of said main regions contains said end position, said end position having a master criminal residing thereon, said pathway adjacent to said end position representing a high risk zone.

7. The board game apparatus of claim 6, further including a plurality of guidance cards, said guidance cards corresponding with a plurality of said playing positions on said playing board.

8. The board game apparatus of claim 7, further including a plurality of guilt determination cards, said guilt determination cards corresponding with a plurality of said playing positions on said playing board, said guilt determination cards further corresponding with said guidance cards.

9. A drug education game, comprising:

(a) a playing board, including;

(i) a start position and an end position,

(ii) a pathway extending about the surface of said playing board between said start position and said end position, said pathway divided into a plurality of side by side shapes defining playing positions, each playing position representing point values or giving information or giving instructions or requiring the taking of a card or designating a neutral position or designating a barricade position,

(iii) dividing means for dividing said playing board into a plurality of main regions, said pathway extending through said main regions, said pathway in a one of said main regions including playing positions representing a plurality of prerequisite items,

(iv) a plurality of subregions disposed throughout said main regions, said subregions representing player holding zones or identifying prerequisite items or representing drug prevention indicia, or representing spaces for the placement of cards;

b) a police chart, said police chart having means for monitoring a tally of points obtained by a player;

(c) a game piece corresponding to a player, said game piece movable in a player'"'"'s turn a selected number of playing positions upon said pathway;

(d) a plurality of guidance cards, said guidance cards giving information on a first face and having identifying indicia on a second face corresponding with identical identifying indicia placed upon a plurality of said playing positions, said indicia indicating for a player to choose a one of said guidance cards;

(e) a plurality of guilt determination cards, said guilt determination cards corresponding with a plurality of said playing positions on said playing board, said guilt determination cards further corresponding with said plurality of guidance cards;

(f) a random number generator for selecting the numbers of playing positions said game piece must move.

10. The drug education game of claim 9, wherein said police chart includes means for identifying point values awarded for confiscating a plurality of contraband items, point values awarded for convicting a plurality of criminals, point values awarded for taking a plurality of hostages and point totals required to obtain a plurality of police tools, said police chart further having means for monitoring the amount of contraband items confiscated, amount of criminals convicted, amount of total points obtained, amount of prerequisite items obtained, amount of hostages taken, and amount of police tools obtained, said police chart further having means for identifying the player as a police officer.

11. The drug education game of claim 10, wherein a master criminal resides on said end position, said pathway adjacent to said end position representing a high risk zone.

12. A board game for educating players about the consequences of drug trafficking, comprising

(a) a playing board including:

(i) a start position and an end position,

(ii) a pathway extending about the surface of said playing board between said start position and said end position, said pathway divided into a plurality of side by side shapes defining playing positions, each playing position representing point values or giving instructions or giving information or requiring the taking of a card or designating a neutral position or designating a barricade position,

(iii) dividing means for dividing said playing board into four main regions, said pathway extending through said main regions,

(iv) a first of said main regions including said start position, said pathway adjacent to said start position in said first of said main regions including a plurality of playing positions identifying a plurality of prerequisite items,

(v) a one of said main regions including said end position, said end position having a master criminal residing thereon, said pathway adjacent to said end position representing a high risk zone,

(vi) a plurality of subregions disposed within said main regions, said subregions representing player holding zones or identifying prerequisite items or representing drug prevention indicia, or representing spaces for the placement of cards;

b) a police chart, said police chart including means for identifying point values awarded for confiscating a plurality of contraband items, point values awarded for convicting a plurality of criminals, point values awarded for taking a plurality of hostages and point totals required to obtain a plurality of police tools, said police chart further having means for monitoring an amount of contraband items confiscated, amount of criminals convicted, amount of total points obtained, amount of prerequisite items obtained, amount of hostages taken, and amount of police tools obtained, said police chart further having means for identifying the player as a police officer;

(c) a game piece corresponding to a player, said game piece movable in a player'"'"'s turn a selected number of playing positions upon said pathway;

(d) a plurality of guidance cards, said guidance cards giving information on a first face and having identifying indicia on a second face corresponding with identical identifying indicia placed upon a plurality of said playing positions, said indicia indicating for a player to choose one of said guidance cards;

(e) a plurality of guilt determination cards, said guilt determination cards corresponding with a plurality of said playing positions on said playing board, said guilt determination cards further corresponding with said plurality of guidance cards;

(f) a random number generator for selecting the numbers of playing positions said game pieces must move.

13. A method for playing a board game apparatus, said board game apparatus comprising a playing board divided into a plurality of main regions having a start position and an end position, a pathway comprised of a plurality of playing positions disposed between said start and end positions, a plurality of subregions disposed upon said playing board, a police chart, one or more game pieces, a plurality of guidance cards, a plurality of guilt determination cards and a random number generator, the method comprising:

(a) each player assuming the role of a law enforcement figure;

(b) each player positioning a corresponding game piece on said start position at the commencement of a game;

(c) obtaining a number from said random number generator;

(d) each player moving said corresponding game piece, in a player'"'"'s turn, a selected number of said playing positions along said pathway into a first of said main regions as indicated by said random number generator;

(e) acquiring a plurality of prerequisite items from said first of said main regions;

(f) advancing said game piece into said additional main regions upon acquiring said prerequisite items;

(g) acting on information indicated on said playing positions when said game piece is moved to a playing position having information indicated thereon;

(h) drawing a guidance card upon moving said game piece to a playing position which indicates that a guidance card must be drawn;

(i) acting on the information indicated by said guidance card;

(j) drawing a guilt determination card which determines whether a criminal is to be convicted, or set free, upon moving said game piece to a playing position which indicates that a guilt determination card must be drawn;

(k) acquiring an amount of points by obtaining convictions against a plurality of criminals and by confiscating a plurality of contraband items;

(l) monitoring said amount of points acquired by tallying all contraband items confiscated and criminals convicted and assigning point values from said police chart to said contraband items and convicted criminals;

(m) gaining entry into said end position by convicting a requisite number of criminals, a master criminal residing at said end position;

(n) winning said game by moving said game piece to said end position and selecting a final guilt determination card to obtain a conviction against said master criminal.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said player applies said amount of points toward the acquisition of one or more police tools.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the acquisition of said police tools enables said player to obtain an increased amount of arrested criminals and confiscated evidence items, said police tools allowing a player to gain entrance to said end position in a shorter period of time, said police tools also allowing a player to penetrate a plurality of barricade positions indicating bonus point amounts.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein upon said player reaching said end position and choosing a guilt determination card which sets said master criminal free, said player must move said game piece back to said start position and begin the game again.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein a player subtracts points from said tally of points upon being taken hostage by said master criminal or if said information on said playing positions or said guidance cards indicate for said player to subtract points from his point tally.

18. A method of playing a game as recited in claim 17, wherein said random number generator is a pair of dice, said player obtaining an additional turn upon rolling a double of any number on the face of said dice.

19. A method of playing a game as recited in claim 18, wherein said prerequisite items include a seven-man task force, a bulletproof vest, armaments, police badge and a search warrant, the loss of any of these prerequisite items having the following consequences and requiring the following actions:

(a) the loss of a task force reduces a players chances of successfully engaging criminals and arresting them and upon losing said task force, said player must return to said first main region to obtain an additional task force;

(b) the loss of a bulletproof vest leaves a player vulnerable to a criminal'"'"'s bullets and upon being shot, said player has two possible fates;

(i) said player may be wounded and must spend a portion of the game in a hospital holding zone, wherein upon leaving said hospital holding zone, said player must return to said first main region to obtain an additional bulletproof vest,

(ii) said player may also be killed, and then must retire his game piece to a cemetery holding zone for the remainder of said game, said player may then acquire an additional game piece and a new police chart and begin said game at said start position;

(c) the loss of armaments eliminates a player'"'"'s ability to gain access to said end position to arrest said master criminal, said player must return to said first main region to obtain additional armaments;

(d) the loss of a badge eliminates a player'"'"'s authority as a law enforcement figure, thus preventing said player from being able to arrest criminals or contraband items, said player must return to said first main region to obtain another badge;

(e) the loss of a search warrant eliminates a player'"'"'s ability to gain access to said end position to arrest said master criminal, said player must return to said first main region to obtain another search warrant.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein a barricade position affects the movement of said game piece in the following manner:

(a) said game piece must move in a single direction throughout the progress of a game, said game piece being allowed to change directions only upon encountering and being unable to cross a barricade position;

(b) said game piece being allowed to move in a single direction through said barricade position only upon acquiring a police tool, said police tool enabling said player to penetrate said barricade position,

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein if a first player moves said game piece to a playing position indicating a hostage holding cell, said first player remaining upon said hostage holding cell until rolling a double number with said chance means, or until a second player reaches said hostage holding cell to free said first player.

22. A method of playing a board game wherein a player assumes the role of a police officer engaging in a street narcotics operation wherein the primary goal is to convict a master criminal, said board game comprising a playing board divided into a plurality of main regions having a start position and an end position, a pathway comprised of a plurality of playing positions disposed between said start and end positions, a plurality of subregions disposed upon said playing board, a police chart, one or more game pieces, a plurality of guidance cards, a plurality of guilt determination cards and a random number generator, the method comprising:

(a) each player positioning a corresponding game piece on said start position at the commencement of a game;

(b) obtaining a number from said random number generator;

(c) each player moving said corresponding game piece, in a player'"'"'s turn, a selected number of said playing positions along said pathway into a first of said main regions as indicated by said random number generator;

(d) acquiring a plurality of prerequisite items from said first of said main regions;

(f) advancing said game piece into said additional main regions upon acquiring said prerequisite items;

(g) acting on information indicated on said playing positions when said game piece is moved to a playing position having information indicated thereon;

(h) drawing a guidance card upon moving said game piece to a playing position which indicates that a guidance card must be drawn;

(i) acting on the information indicated by said guidance card;

(j) drawing a guilt determination card which determines whether a criminal is to be convicted, or set free, upon moving said game piece to a playing position which indicates that a guilt determination card must be drawn;

(k) acquiring points by obtaining convictions against a plurality of criminals and by confiscating a plurality of contraband items;

(l) monitoring the amount of points acquired by tallying all contraband items confiscated and criminals convicted and assigning point values from said police chart to said contraband items and convicted criminals;

(m) applying said amount of points toward the acquisition of one or more police tools;

(n) said police tools allowing a player to obtain an increased amount of arrested criminals and confiscated evidence items, said police tools allowing a player to gain entrance to said end position in a shorter period of time, said police tools also allowing a player to penetrate a plurality of barricade positions indicating bonus point amounts;

(o) gaining entry into said end position by convicting a requisite number of criminals, a master criminal residing at said end position;

(p) winning the game by moving said game piece to said end position and selecting a final guilt determination card to obtain a conviction against said master criminal.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein upon said player reaching said end position and choosing a guilt determination card which sets said master criminal free, said player must move said game piece back to said start position and begin the game again.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein a player subtracts points from said tally of points upon being taken hostage by said master criminal or if said information on said playing positions or said guidance cards indicate for said player to subtract points from his point tally.

25. A method of playing a game as recited in claim 24, wherein said random number generator is a pair of dice, said player obtaining an additional turn upon rolling a double of any number on the face of said dice.

26. A method of playing a game as recited in claim 25, wherein said prerequisite items include a seven-man task force, a bulletproof vest, armaments, police badge and a search warrant, the loss of any of these prerequisite items having the following consequences and requiring the following actions:

(a) the loss of a task force reduces a players chances of successfully engaging criminals and arresting them and upon losing said task force, said player must return to said first main region to obtain an additional task force;

(b) the loss of a bulletproof vest leaves a player vulnerable to a criminal'"'"'s bullets and upon being shot, said player has two possible fates;

(i) said player may be wounded and must spend a portion of the game in a hospital holding zone, wherein upon leaving said hospital holding zone, said player must return to said first main region to obtain an additional bulletproof vest,

(ii) said player may also be killed, and then must retire his game piece to a cemetery holding zone for the remainder of said game, said player may then acquire an additional game piece and a new police chart and begin said game at said start position;

(c) the loss of armaments eliminates a player'"'"'s ability to gain access to said end position to arrest said master criminal, said player must return to said first main region to obtain additional armaments;

(d) the loss of a badge eliminates a player'"'"'s authority as a law enforcement figure, thus preventing said player from being able to arrest criminals or contraband items, said player must return to said first main region to obtain another badge;

(e) the loss of a search warrant eliminates a player'"'"'s ability to gain access to said end position to arrest said master criminal, said player must return to said first main region to obtain another search warrant.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein a barricade position affects the movement of said game piece in the following manner:

(a) said game piece must move in a single direction throughout the progress of a game, said game piece being allowed to change directions only upon encountering and being unable to cross a barricade position;

(b) said game piece being allowed to move in a single direction through said barricade position only upon acquiring a police tool, said police tool enabling said player to penetrate said barricade position.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein if a first player moves said game piece to a playing position indicating a hostage holding cell, said first player remaining upon said hostage holding cell until rolling a double number with said chance means, or until a second player reaches said hostage holding cell to free said first player.

29. A method of playing a board game wherein a player assumes the role of a police officer engaging in a street narcotics operation wherein the primary goal is to convict a master criminal, said board game comprising a playing board divided into a plurality of main regions having a start position and an end position, a pathway comprised of a plurality of playing positions disposed between said start and end positions, a plurality of subregions disposed upon said playing board, a police chart, one or more game pieces, a plurality of guidance cards, a plurality of guilt determination cards and a random number generator, the method comprising:

(a) each player positioning a corresponding game piece on said start position at the commencement of a game;

(b) obtaining a number from said random number generator;

(c) each player moving said corresponding game piece, in a player'"'"'s turn, a selected number of said playing positions along said pathway into a first of said main regions as indicated by said random number generator;

(d) acquiring a plurality of prerequisite items from said first of said main regions;

(f) advancing said game piece into said additional main regions upon acquiring said prerequisite items;

(g) acting on information indicated on said playing positions when said game piece is moved to a playing position having information indicated thereon;

(h) drawing a guidance card upon moving said game piece to a playing position which indicates that a guidance card must be drawn;

(i) acting on the information indicated by said guidance card;

(j) drawing a guilt determination card which determines whether a criminal is to be convicted, or set free, upon moving said game piece to a playing position which indicates that a guilt determination card must be drawn;

(k) acquiring points by obtaining convictions against a plurality of criminals and by confiscating a plurality of contraband items;

(l) subtracting points upon being taken hostage by said master criminal or if said information on said playing positions or said guidance cards indicate for said player to subtract points;

(m) monitoring the amount of points acquired by tallying all contraband items confiscated and criminals convicted and assigning point values from said police chart to said contraband items and convicted criminals;

(n) applying said amount of points toward the acquisition of one or more police tools;

(o) said police tools allowing a player to obtain an increased amount of arrested criminals and confiscated evidence items, said police tools allowing a player to gain entrance to said end position in a shorter period of time, said police tools also allowing a player to penetrate a plurality of barricade positions indicating bonus point amounts;

(p) gaining entry into said end position convicting a requisite number of criminals, a master criminal residing at said end position;

(q) winning the game by moving said game piece to said end position and selecting a final guilt determination card to obtain a conviction against said master criminal.