Board game and method of playing same

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the invention include board games and methods of playing board games, which are both educational and entertaining with regard to the solar system and which are designed to be played with two or more players.

1 . A game apparatus, comprising: 
 a game board comprising a plurality of paths marked thereon, the paths comprising a primary path and a plurality of secondary paths, wherein the primary path and secondary paths comprise sequences of discrete spaces, wherein the primary path comprises a continuous sequence of discrete spaces including a beginning space and an end space, wherein each secondary path diverges from the primary path or another secondary path, and wherein at least one secondary path comprises a connecting space, which connects to a discrete space of the primary path or another secondary path, and a planet space corresponding to a planet of the solar system;    a plurality of player space markers, which are used by players to mark a current space along a path during course of play;    random number determining means for a player to randomly determine a number during course of play; and    a plurality of sets of planet tokens, each set comprising nine planet tokens each representing one of nine planets of the solar system, which are collected by players during the course of play.    
   
   
       2 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the game board comprises at least nine secondary paths each comprising a planet space corresponding to one of the nine planets of the solar system.  
   
   
       3 . The game apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the at least nine secondary path terminates with the associated planet space.  
   
   
       4 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary path of the game board comprises a chance space, wherein the chance space instructs a player to take a certain action depending on a number that is determined using the random number determining means.  
   
   
       5 . The game apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the chance space instructs a player to advance to a planet space.  
   
   
       6 . The game apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the chance space instructs a player to collect a desired planet token.  
   
   
       7 . The game apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the chance space instructs a player to lose a planet token possessed by the player.  
   
   
       8 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the planet space comprises a graphical depiction of the associated planet.  
   
   
       9 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the discrete spaces include one or more instruction spaces that direct a player to take some action.  
   
   
       10 . The game apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one instruction space directs a player to advance to a planet space.  
   
   
       11 . The game apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one instruction space directs a player to collect a planet token that is possessed by another player.  
   
   
       12 . The game apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one instruction space directs a player to lose a planet token possessed-by the player.  
   
   
       13 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the planet tokens comprise playing cards that include graphical depictions of the planets.  
   
   
       14 . A method of playing a game, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a play path comprising a sequence a discrete spaces including a beginning space, and ending space, and a plurality of planet spaces including at least one planet space for each of nine planets of the solar system;    starting from the beginning space, a plurality of players taking turns traversing the play path in random directions;    obtaining planet tokens while traversing the play path to obtain a complete set of planet tokens including one planet token for each of the nine planets, wherein obtaining planet tokens comprises advancing to a planet space to obtain an associated planet token; and    a player winning the game by advancing to the ending space while having a complete set of planet tokens.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein obtaining planet tokens comprises advancing to an instruction space in the path having an instruction to collect a planet token.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the instruction to collect a planet token comprises an instruction for the player to take a planet token from another player.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a player advancing to a chance space;    the player determining a random number; and    instructing the player to perform a certain action depending on the random number determined.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein instructing the player to perform a certain action depending on the random number determined comprises instructing the player to collect or lose a planet token.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein instructing the player to perform a certain action depending on the random number determined comprises instructing the player to advance to another space in the path.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein providing a play path comprises providing a game board with the play path marked thereon.