Game board and game element with detecting means

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of playing a game by means of a game element ( 10 ). The invention further relates to a game element and a game board for playing a game. Said method comprises the steps of: placing the game element on a first location relative to a game board ( 40 ); determining, by the game board, the first location of the game element; determining, by the game board, a first information item representing game content, wherein said first information item is dependent on said location and a first game being played; transferring, by the game board, the first information item to the game element; and receiving and presenting said first information item on the game element. Said first information item may include plain text, pictures, frames, video, word-processor data, spread-sheet data, game figures, game elements, text or picture messages, and combinations thereof. Said step of determining the first location of the game element includes the steps of: transmitting, by at least one transmitter located on the game element, at least one signal identifying said game element; receiving, by at least one sensor ( 41 ) located on the game board, at least one identifying signal; and determining, by the game board, the first location based on at least one identifying signal. This allows addition of new game elements to a game without actually new elements being bought because modified information presented on said game elements may modify their kind and appearance.

1 . A method of playing a game by means of a game element, the method comprising the steps of: 
 placing the game element on a first location relative to a game board;    determining, by the game board, the first location of the game element;    determining, by the game board, a first information item representing game content, wherein said first information item is dependent on said location and a first game being played;    transferring, by the game board, the first information item to the game element; and    receiving and presenting said first information item on the game element.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the step of determining the first location of the game element comprises the steps of: 
 transmitting, by at least one transmitter located on the game element, at least one signal identifying said game element;    receiving, by at least one sensor located on the game board, at least one identifying signal; and    determining, by the game board, the first location based on at least one identifying signal.    
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of: 
 removing the game element from the first location; and    placing the game element in a second location relative to the game board.    
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the method further comprises the step of: 
 receiving a second information item representing a second game being played.    
   
   
       5 . A computer system for performing the method according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       6 . A computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer-readable medium for performing the method of  claim 1  when the computer program is run on a computer.  
   
   
       7 . A game element for playing a game, said game element comprising: 
 means for placing it on a first location relative to a game board;    means for transmitting, by at least one transmitter located on the game element, at least one signal identifying said game element; and    means for receiving and means for presenting a first information item representing game content, wherein said first information item is dependent on said first location and a first game being played, and wherein said first information is sent from the game board.    
   
   
       8 . A game board for playing a game, said game board comprising: 
 means for determining a first location of a game element;    means for determining a first information item representing game content, wherein said first information item is dependent on said first location and a first game being played; and    means for transferring the first information item to the game element.    
   
   
       9 . A game board according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the means for determining a first location of a game element comprises: 
 means for receiving, from at least one sensor located on the game board, at least one identifying signal; and    means for determining the first location based on at least one identifying signal.