1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the field of recreational and amusement games. More particularly, it pertains to a playing cardbased game for two or more persons that simulates, to a high degree of reality, the esoteric aspects of the game of football.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Card games have existed as far back as the ancient Chinese cultures. There is something both mysterious and exciting about holding a multiplicity of pasteboards, hoping to overpower the opponent with this hand or the next, while relying on skill and the probabilities inherent in all games of chance. Even those whose game-playing skills are not fully developed still seek to play.
Some card games have their own reward such as the poker game pot or the bridge grand slam. Other card games, either by themselves or played along with special boards and dice, etc., engage in mock combat normally held in other arenas such as war, football games, baseball games, real estate transactions and stock transactions. It is to this type of board game, namely the engagement in mock football games, that this invention is directed.
Football games have been simulated with cards for many years. More recently, the game has been simulated by the use of board games containing electronically actuated vibrating means to provide movement of football player figures fixed on the board to progress up and down a simulated playing field. More recently, computer components have been assembled to simulate movement of football players over a simulated field. Scoring is based upon a combination of random selection of numbers or directions coupled with the skill of the player in pressing buttons or actuating switches with sufficient dexterity to overcome a general resistance built into the electronic circuitry. In all of these attempts, however, none has fully simulated control of individual teams using the plays typical to the football game such as running, passing, and kicking, and achieving any realistic degree of simulation with actual conditions encountered in football games. As a result, these simulated games lose their appeal after a period of time, either by virtue of the players adapting to the skill requirements of the switches or other mechanical features needed to be manipulated during the game, or becoming disinterested because of the loss of control of the outcome of the game due to the total random selection of the game elements.
Those who have once played football still seek the thrill of formulating offensive and defensive football plays in an environment closely simulating the actual football game itself and utilizing their mental skills to overpower the opponent now that their physical skills are no longer sufficient to allow them to personally engage in an actual football game. Accordingly, there is a significant need for a playing card-based simulated football game which allows the players to utilize their mental skills in planning and executing the various offensive and defensive plays in an environment that closely simulates the actual game itself.