Apparatus for an electronically-enabled board game

Abstract

An apparatus for an improved board game combining the advantages of both traditional and electronic games. The apparatus includes a game board and a plurality of game pieces, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect the identity and location of a given game piece on the game board; and a server communicable with the game board and configured to receive information on the identity and location of the game pieces relative to the game board, and, if appropriate, send to the game board a display instruction, wherein the game board is configured to, in response to the display instruction, electronically display a game progress indicator.

1 . An apparatus for an electronically-enabled board game, said board game being configured for playing by at least two players, each assigned a plurality of game pieces, the players taking sequential turns to cause or instruct movement of at least one of their game pieces relative to a game board in accordance with the rules of the game, said apparatus comprising:
 the game board;   the plurality of game pieces assigned to each player; wherein the apparatus is configured to detect the identity and location of a given game piece relative to the game board; and   a server comprising a processor and a memory and communicable with at least the game board, wherein the server is configured to receive information on the identity and location of the game pieces relative to the game board, the server being further configured to, upon each sequential turn taken by each player, determine whether a game progress indicator is appropriate, and if so, send to the game board a display instruction, wherein the game board is configured to, in response to the display instruction, electronically display the game progress indicator.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of game pieces contains an electronic identifier such as an RFID chip, and the game board is configured to electronically detect, such as via an RFID reader, the identity and location of a given game piece on the game board. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the game progress indicator is determined by the type of game event to which the most recent player's move(s) corresponds; wherein the type of game event comprises at least: “simple move”, and “move plus outcome”; wherein the type of game event is at least partly determined by one or more of: the start and/or end location on the game board of the game piece(s) involved in the most recent player's move(s); and: the identity of the game piece(s) involved in the most recent player's move(s). 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the type of game event is at least partly determined by the identity and/or start and/or end location of at least two game pieces assigned to different players. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein there are a plurality of subtypes of “move plus outcome” game event. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein there are a plurality of types and/or subtypes of game progress indicator corresponding to the types and/or subtypes of game event. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the game progress indicator comprises one or more of: illumination of at least one region of the board; and: one or more sound effects. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to store any relevant parameters associated with one or more of the plurality of game pieces. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the players have input as to at least some of the parameters associated with one or more of the plurality of their game pieces. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the parameters associated with the game piece(s) involved in the most recent player's move(s) contribute to determining the type of game event to which that move(s) corresponds, and hence the appropriate game progress indicator (if any). 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the parameters comprise the ammunition supply associated with the game piece(s) involved in the most recent player's move(s). 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of game boards, wherein each player has a game board. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the game progress indicator is displayed on all of the game boards, such that each player can move the relevant piece(s) on their board to reflect the most recent player's move(s). 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a personal electronic device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer, associated with each player, and communicable with the server, said personal electronic device being configured to display a real-time simulation of the board game, including one or more of: the identity and location of the plurality of game pieces on (or in relation to) the game board; the latest player's move(s); the corresponding type and/or subtype of game event; the corresponding game progress indicator; any relevant prompts or instructions to the player; any relevant parameters associated with the plurality of game pieces; and/or the game score. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the personal electronic device is configured to receive player input and transmit this to the server. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the personal electronic device is configured to receive player input as to at least one of the parameters associated with one or more of the plurality of that player's game pieces. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises the ammunition supply associated with a particular game piece, and the player input comprises one or more of: electing to use at least some of the ammunition as part of the player's move(s); or: replenishing the ammunition supply associated with that game piece. 
     
     
         18 . A game board configured for use in an electronically-enabled board game, said board game being configured for playing by at least two players, each assigned a plurality of game pieces, the players taking sequential turns to cause or instruct movement of at least one of their game pieces relative to the game board in accordance with the rules of the game,
 wherein the identity and location of the game pieces relative to the game board is detectable by a server, the server being configured to, upon each sequential turn taken by each player, determine whether a game progress indicator is appropriate,   wherein the game board is configured to, if the server determines that a game progress indicator is appropriate, receive from the server a display instruction,   wherein the game board is configured to, in response to the display instruction, electronically display the game progress indicator.   
     
     
         19 . A game piece configured for use in an electronically-enabled board game, said board game being configured for playing by at least two players, each assigned a plurality of game pieces, the players taking sequential turns to cause or instruct movement of at least one of their game pieces relative to a game board in accordance with the rules of the game,
 wherein the identity and location of the game pieces relative to the game board is detectable by a server, the server being configured to, upon each sequential turn taken by each player, determine whether a game progress indicator is appropriate,   wherein the game board is configured to, if the server determines that a game progress indicator is appropriate, receive from the server a display instruction,   wherein the game board is configured to, in response to the display instruction, electronically display the game progress indicator.   
     
     
         20 . A server configured for use in an electronically-enabled board game, said board game being configured for playing by at least two players, each assigned a plurality of game pieces, the players taking sequential turns to cause or instruct movement of at least one of their game pieces relative to a game board in accordance with the rules of the game,
 wherein the server is configured to detect the identity and location of the game pieces relative to the game board, the server being further configured to, upon each sequential turn taken by each player, determine whether a game progress indicator is appropriate,   wherein, if the server determines that a game progress indicator is appropriate, the server is configured to send to the game board a display instruction, wherein the game board is configured to, in response to the display instruction from the server, electronically display the game progress indicator.