Network driven board game instruction generator and methods for interaction with participant

Abstract

Interaction between a telephone system in a multiplayer board game providing real time input to game play in a multi player board game during the course of game play. Players make telephone calls to a special game play service provider at a remote phone number at the start of the game. The service provider then initiates a series of calls to the players' telephones during the course of game play. These calls provide game play input which could impact the outcome of the game. For example while playing a Monopoly board game, players may receive telephone calls during a forty five-minute period. The calls would provide instructions for various game effects, similar to Community Chest or Chance cards. Telephonic instructions also provide additional play experience during game play by occasionally dictating moves and instructions to game players, e.g., to improve the play experience and accelerate the game by driving property into the game and by driving money out of the game.

1 . A game comprising:
 a game board having a plurality of defined locations;   a plurality of game pieces for moving on the game board, at least one game piece for each of a plurality of game players;   a selectable game element for directing the players to move the game pieces on the game board;   an instruction generator comprising an information processor providing an instruction content to at least one of the game players; and   an interface comprising an electronic communications network for coupling the instruction generator for receiving electronic information.   
   
   
       2 . A game as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the selectable game element comprises conventional board game selectable game elements, including at least one of a game die, a selection of cards, or a choice selection indicator for directing the players to move the game pieces on the game board. 
   
   
       3 . A game as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the instruction generator comprises a telephone and the interface comprises a telephone network. 
   
   
       4 . A game as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the instruction generator comprises a telephone and the interface comprises telephone network phone cards, registration or limited time subscriptions for access to a service provider. 
   
   
       5 . A game as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the information processor comprises a server and the electronic communications network comprises a computer network. 
   
   
       6 . A game as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a player profile associated with the electronic communications network wherein the player profile comprises information unique to each of the plurality of game players. 
   
   
       7 . A game as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the information processor introduces variables into the game play based on the player profile. 
   
   
       8 . A game as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the instruction generator comprises a wireless communications device, and the interface comprises a cellular telephone network with the instruction generator for content including instant messaging (IM) or Short Message Service (SMS) is telecommunications. 
   
   
       9 . A game as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a memory device associated with the information processor for providing game play information to the instruction generator impacting the outcome of the game. 
   
   
       10 . A game as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the memory comprises a look up table (LUT) for use with the instruction generator to provide ordered or random content during game play. 
   
   
       11 . A game as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the content comprises a combination of speech and sound effects stored on the memory device. 
   
   
       12 . A game as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the instruction generator comprises a telephone and the interface comprises a telephone network, and wherein the content provides telephone input during the course of game play. 
   
   
       13 . A game as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the instruction generator comprises a wireless communications device, and the interface comprises a cellular telephone network with the instruction generator for content including short message text communications. 
   
   
       14 . A board game having game pieces for moving on a game board, the game directing players to move the game pieces a plurality of defined locations on the game board, comprising:
 an instruction generator comprising an information processor providing instruction content to at least one of the game players; and   an interface comprising an electronic communications network for coupling the instruction generator for receiving electronic information; and   said instruction content to the at least one of the game players accelerates the game.   
   
   
       15 . A game as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the instruction generator comprises a telephone and the interface comprises a telephone network. 
   
   
       16 . A game as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the instruction generator comprises a telephone and the interface comprises telephone network phone cards, registration or limited time subscriptions for access to a service provider. 
   
   
       17 . A game as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the instruction generator comprises a wireless communications device, and the interface comprises a cellular telephone network with the instruction generator for content including instant messaging (IM) or Short Message Service (SMS) is telecommunications. 
   
   
       18 . A game as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the instruction content to the at least one of the game players accelerates the game by driving property into the game and by driving money out of the game. 
   
   
       19 . A board game method using game pieces for moving on a game board, the game directing players to move the game pieces a plurality of defined locations on the game board, the method comprising:
 generating electronic information instruction content for impacting game play with respect to at least one of the game players;   providing a service provider for delivery of the electronic information instruction content; and   communicating the electronic information instruction content over a telecommunications network to at least one of the game players.   
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the communicating of the electronic information instruction content to the at least one of the game players accelerates the game, drives property into the game or drive money out of the game. 
   
   
       21 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the providing of the service provider comprises a telephone interface uses telephone network phone cards, registration or limited time subscriptions for access to the service provider.