Methods And Apparatus For A Board Game Utilizing An Expandable Board

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for a board game using the concept of an expandable game board are offered. In a preferred embodiment, the game board represents an overview of a historical Japanese castle and there are four separate areas of the castle that are represented by four board quadrants or sections. The board game is playable with a single board section, with two board sections, with three board sections, or with all four board sections. When two or more board sections are utilized, the board sections operate in coordination to provide an expanded playing board wherein a player may control game pieces on a plurality of board sections and/or may move game pieces between board sections. Thus, movement of game characters and/or objects through the various buildings, structures, and grounds of a historical castle may be represented in a table-top board game, and the buildings, structures, and grounds may be expanded through the addition of one or more additional board sections. To advantageously enhance customer engagement and marketing opportunities, each additional section of the game board may be released separately and at predetermined future dates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game apparatus representing a defense of a defensible space, comprising:
 a set of one or more game pieces;   a set of one or more game cards;   a set of one or more randomizing devices; and   an expandable game board representing the defensible space and having at least a first game board section and a second game board section, wherein the game apparatus is playable using only the first game board section and wherein the second game board section is associated with the first game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section and the second game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section and the second game board section.   
     
     
         2 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the expandable game board further includes a third game board section that is associated with the first game board section and the second game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section. 
     
     
         3 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the expandable game board further includes a fourth game board section that is associated with the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section. 
     
     
         4 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the expandable game board includes an association indicator for indicating how the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section are intended to be oriented while in association, and wherein the first game board section includes a first portion of the association indicator, the second game board section includes a second portion of the association indicator, the third game board section includes a third portion of the association indicator, and the fourth game board section includes a fourth portion of the association indicator. 
     
     
         5 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the defensible space is a historical defensive structure. 
     
     
         6 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the defensible space is a historical castle. 
     
     
         7 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the defensible space is Himeji Castle. 
     
     
         8 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the set of one or more game pieces includes a set of defensive pieces to be controlled by a first player and a set of attacking pieces to be controlled by a second player. 
     
     
         9 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the set of one or more game cards includes a defense card, a weapon card, and an action card. 
     
     
         10 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the set of one or more randomizing devices includes a first die having 4 sides, a second die having 6 sides, a third die having 8 sides, a fourth die having 10 sides, a fifth die having 12 sides, and a sixth die having 20 sides. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing a board game having an expandable board, comprising the steps of:
 releasing a game apparatus on a launch date, wherein the game apparatus includes a set of one or more game pieces, a set of one or more game cards, a set of one or more randomizing devices, and a first game board section wherein the board game is playable using only the first game board section;   publicizing that there will be a second game board section released at a predetermined expansion date, wherein the predetermined expansion date is subsequent in time to the launch date; and   releasing the second game board section on the predetermined expansion date, wherein the second game board section is associated with the first game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section and the second game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section and the second game board section.   
     
     
         12 . The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 publicizing that there will be a third game board section released at a predetermined second expansion date, wherein the predetermined second expansion date is subsequent in time to the launch date and to the predetermined expansion date; and   releasing the third game board section on the predetermined second expansion date, wherein the third game board section is associated with the first game board section and the second game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section.   
     
     
         13 . The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 publicizing that there will be a fourth game board section released at a predetermined third expansion date, wherein the predetermined third expansion date is subsequent in time to the launch date, to the predetermined expansion date, and to the predetermined second expansion date; and   releasing the fourth game board section on the predetermined third expansion date, wherein the fourth game board section is associated with the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section.   
     
     
         14 . The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the game board represents a defensible space and wherein the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section each represent separate and interconnected portions of the defensible space. 
     
     
         15 . The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the defensible space is a historical Japanese castle having a plurality of walls, a plurality of interior spaces for game piece movement, a plurality of exterior spaces for game piece movement, and a plurality of entrance ways for game piece movement. 
     
     
         16 . The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the launch date in within a first season in a calendar year, the first expansion date is within a second season in the calendar year, the second expansion date is within a third season in the calendar year, and the third expansion date is within a fourth season in the calendar year. 
     
     
         17 . The method for providing a board game having an expandable board as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the launch date in within a first quarter in a calendar year, the first expansion date is within a second quarter in the calendar year, the second expansion date is within a third quarter in the calendar year, and the third expansion date is within a fourth quarter in the calendar year. 
     
     
         18 . A method for playing a board game having an expandable board, comprising the steps of:
 playing the board game using only a first game board section, wherein the first game board section represents a first portion of a defensible space and one or more game pieces may be distributed on the first game board section so that one or more game cards and one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section;   receiving a second game board section at a later date, wherein the second game board section represents a second portion of the defensible space;   associating the second game board section with the first game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section and the second game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section and the second game board section; and   playing the board game using the first game board section in association with the second game board section.   
     
     
         19 . The method for playing a board game having an expandable board as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving a third game board section at a second later date, wherein the third game board section represents a third portion of the defensible space;   associating the third game board section with the first game board section and with the second game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, and the third game board section; and   playing the board game using the first game board section in association with the second game board section and the third game board section.   
     
     
         20 . The method for playing a board game having an expandable board as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving a fourth game board section at a third later date, wherein the fourth game board section represents a fourth portion of the defensible space;   associating the fourth game board section with the first game board section, with the second game board section, and with the third game board section so that the one or more game pieces may be distributed between the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section and so that the one or more game cards and the one or more randomizing devices determine events to occur on the first game board section, the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section; and   playing the board game using the first game board section in association with the second game board section, the third game board section, and the fourth game board section.