Computer-based board games prevent any of the players from making a mistake, or cheating. Conventional board games have a tactile element and therefore give a different gaming experience. I, for one, find it easier to see patterns in a board game if I can look around it from various angles, and touch the pieces.

Now, I'm sure that there are chess computers that can detect where you put the pieces on the board, by using transponders in the bases of the pieces, or some such. What I'm thinking of extending this, not only to other pieces but also, more specifically to the die used in many games.

I see this as being implemented in one of two ways:

Either by transponder close to each surface of the die so that the computer detects the surface of the die that lies against the gaming table, and hence calculates what is on the other side...

or by playing on a photosensitive surface which images the bottom surface of the die and again calulates what you are seeing on the top.

Taking these ideas further, if they could be combined with a video display, you could use pieces and dice on the surface of a computer gaming table (link) and get both the tactile and computer aspects of a game.
-- st3f, Feb 07 2003

Board Gaming Table http://www.halfbake...rd_20Gaming_20Table
The idea that spawned this one. [st3f, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

xerox PARC Lab http://www2.parc.co...attice/digitalclay/
Research by the kings of research on modular robotics [neuroticus, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Explain again why it is so important to stop players making a mistake or cheating?
-- DrCurry, Feb 07 2003


It stops me having to hurt them.
-- st3f, Feb 07 2003


Or roll a blank, electronic die, and a random outcome is displayed on the upper surface and transmitted to the board.
-- FarmerJohn, Feb 07 2003


Methinks this idea might be to stop the *computer* from cheating.

Personally, I have always harboured a suspicion that Microsoft Solitaire is fixed...
-- Cedar Park, Feb 09 2003


. . . was it broken?
-- bristolz, Feb 09 2003



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