| Tippy's Mancala Game |
| Inventor: Gary Tippy, 2006 |
| Ranks: Four |
| Sowing: Multiple laps |
| Region: USA |
Tippy's Mancala Game was designed by Gary Tippy in 2006, when he lived in Langhorne PA (USA). The game was patented on November 24, 2009 (Patent Number: US 7,621,532). The game can be played by 2-4 players and involves luck since the moves are determined by a spinner.
"This educational board game improves counting skills, matching skills, and strategic thinking skills."
Gary Tippy (2006)
Rules
A Game Shown in the Patent
The four-side gameboard consists of five squares pits numbered from 1-20 and a large round store (colored blue, red, green or yellow) at each corner. In addition, there is a spin designator in the center surrounded by a circle with 20 sections numbered 1-20 called "spinner dial".
Each player owns one store.
Initially, there are five counters in every other square, while the stores are still empty.
The first player is determined by spinning; the player whose store is closest to which the arrow points starts the game. The game is played in turns, in clockwise order.
On his turn a player first spins the designator to determine which pit he sows.
The contents of a pit can be sown clockwise or counterclockwise. If the last counter falls into a non-empty pit its contents are lifted for another lap that must be continued in the same direction.
Counters are also placed into the player's store, but those of his opponents are skipped.
The move ends when the last counter falls into an empty pit or the player's store.
If the arrow stopped on a number which points to an empty pit the move is over without anything been sown.
The object of the game is to be the first player to collect ten counters in his store. Play can continue to determine second and third place winners; alternately, the game can be terminated and a new game can be started.
Copyright
© Ralf Gering
Under the CC by-sa 2.5 license.