Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A GAME
BOARD AND PLAYING GAMES THEREWITH
PRIORITY STATEMENT
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No.
61/561,086, filed November 17, 2011.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a board game in which players
create words by
connecting letters, and in particular, the present disclosure relates to board
games in which
multiple boards are capable of being arranged in various combinations and
configurations
to generate one of many different possible game boards, each of the boards is
imprinted
with an array of different letters to individualize each board, and the
players or teams must
create words by connecting the letters on the game board.
[0003] The present disclosure relates to boards, each containing multiple
letters, to be
combined in numerous combinations and configurations in order to generate and
play
different board games on different game boards in which the object is for a
player or team
to place that team's chips or tokens on letters and adjacent letters to create
words, and
thereby creating a line or path of chips. By using this line of chips and
adding new words at
each turn which will immediately or eventually form a longer line, the team
can meet certain
objectives, such as connecting various locations or ends on the game board,
either from
side to side, top to bottom or connecting all four sides (in one connected)
line, or racing
from one end of the game board to the other, and other objectives as necessary
to play
each game.
[0004] The present disclosure further relates to boards and integral or
separate pieces
that are located or can be placed on the boards, such that the boards which
each contain
an array of squares containing multiple letters to be combined in numerous
combinations
and configurations, now contain certain impediments or blocks to stop the
progression of
the line or path. The pieces can be the size of one or multiple squares and
can be printed
or otherwise made permanent on each board in random locations, or can be
separate
pieces to be placed on the board before or during the game play.
[0005] The present disclosure further relates to boards, each containing
multiple
numbers, to be combined in numerous combinations and configurations, usually
in a
mathematical formula (such as 3 + 4 = 7) in order to generate and play
different board
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games on different game boards in which the object is for a player or team to
place that
team's chips or tokens on numbers and adjacent numbers to create mathematical
equations, and thereby creating a line or path of chips. By using this line of
chips and
adding new mathematical equations at each turn which will immediately or
eventually form
a longer line, the team can meet certain objectives, such as connecting
various locations or
ends on the game board, either from side to side, top to bottom or connecting
all four sides
(in one connected) line, or racing from one end of the game board to the
other, and other
objectives as necessary to play each game.
[0006] The
present disclosure further relates to a board or computer game in which an
array of letters is revealed on a display, such as a game board, computer,
mobile phone or
computer tablet, along with a clue or clues (including possibly the direction
of the resulting
word), and a player is required to find the answer word or words in the array.
The words
may be located from one end of the array to the other, such as side to side or
top to bottom;
or may be located anywhere in the array. The game may be played in a timed
play or
untimed play. Further, the game play may be similar to the game play described
herein for
board games in which a player attempts to join top to bottom and side to side
in the least
number of connected words. Points are established based on the size of the
words with a
higher score for using fewer words when joining the sides.
[0007] The
present disclosure further relates to a board or computer game or a printed
puzzle in which an array of letters is revealed on paper or on a display, such
as a game
board, computer, mobile phone or computer tablet. On the same paper or
display, a
representation of a phrase, sentence, song lyric or other set of words shall
be shown to the
player. This representation shall reveal the length of each word and the
number of words in
the entire phrase. But the representation will not reveal all of the actual
letters used in the
words of the phrase. A typical phrase representation will show several letters
from the
phrase in correct positions with the remaining letters being shown as
underlines or empty
boxes (blanks). The goal of the game is to identify and fill in the entire
correct phrase. The
letter array contains the entire correct phrase so that each successive letter
in the entire
phrase, excluding spaces and punctuation, touches the previous letter in the
entire phrase,
as described herein. Players will use the letter array to find the beginning,
end and key
letters within the phrase and then build the complete phrase by identifying
the remaining
array letters which fill in the blanks in the phrase.
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[0008] The present disclosure further relates to a television or Internet
game show in
which any of the game play described herein is provided for the players. The
show may
have multiple segments, in which the players play the same or different
formats of
connecting words on an array or guessing the word on the array based on clues
provided.
There can be a bonus round for the player with the highest score at the end of
the
segments. Further, players watching the show can also play along for prizes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A board game is a game in which pieces are placed, moved or removed
from a
pre-marked surface or board according to a set of rules. From ancient burial
sites, it is
believed that the first known board game Senet was played in Egypt as early as
3500 to
3000 BC. Since then, board games have been a part of most cultures and
societies
throughout history. Board games are based on strategy and usually the game
ends when
one player or team of players defeats the other player or team based on the
set of rules.
[0010] Board games are based on strategy and luck and can be divided
generally into a
number of different categories, such as word games, puzzles, theme games, role-
playing
and other categories, although usually, board games overlap these categories.
However,
the objective of almost all board games is based on defeating the other player
or team by
accumulating more points or the other team's tokens, or obtaining a winning
position.
[0011] Of the more famous board games, Monopoly was first released in its
current
version in the 1930s and Scrabble was first distributed in the late 1940s and
early 1950s.
Another famous game, Trivial Pursuit was first distributed in 1982. Each of
these games
included a game board and pieces that could be placed on the board or moved
around the
board during the play of the game.
[0012] In particular, the Scrabble game board contained an array of boxes
and letter
tiles that allowed each player to accumulate points by "laying down" the
letter tiles to create
words. The number of points accumulated was dependant on the particular letter
tiles used
to create the word and the location of the word on the board.
[0013] Although many types of board games exist, it would be advantageous
to have a
board game in which the game board shape and size was made up of a
configuration of a
number of smaller boards, each of the smaller boards having a different array
of letters
such that numerous different game boards could be created using the same
smaller
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boards. Further, it would be advantageous to have a board game in which the
game board
can be changed even for the same configuration each time the game was played.
The
present disclosure solves these and other disadvantages of current board
games.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention is a board game containing a game board made
up of
multiple different boards, each of the boards individualized to contain an
array of different
letters, such that when the individual boards are placed next to each other in
a configuration
and then shuffled and placed next to each other in the same configuration,
different game
boards are generated.
[0015] For example, the game board may be made up of an array of 16 four by
four
individual boards, with each of the individual boards having a four by four
array of 16 letters
printed thereon, and none of the individual boards having the same array of
letters. When
the individual boards of the four by four array are picked up, shuffled and
placed into
another four by four array configuration, the resulting game board will be
different than the
previous game board.
[0016] Once the game board is generated, depending on the board game being
played,
various board games can be played according to the rules set up for that board
game.
Most of the games include the placement of chips on the letters of the boards
to create
words. In the preferred embodiment, the chips are a different translucent
color so that each
player or team uses one color translucent chips to create their words. By
using translucent
chips, each player or team can see the letters that have been covered and
continue to use
those letters to create additional words and extend the path of those chips.
[0017] In most of the games, the player can use any adjacent letters to
create a word so
that a particular letter can be combined with up to eight adjacent letters and
that adjacent
letter can be combined with the seven remaining adjacent letters to continue
creating the
word. In the preferred embodiment, the word cannot use the same letter more
than once,
but the word can snake around and back to create the word.
[0018] An objective of the present disclosure is to generate a game board
using 16
individual boards in a four by four array. The objective is for each player or
team taking
turns to create a path using their color translucent chips placed on the
letters to create a
word, and to extend that path to create a line from one end of the game board
to the other
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before any other team creates a line from one edge of the game board to the
opposite edge
with their color chips.
[0019] An objective of the present disclosure is to generate a game board
using 12
individual boards in a four by four array in which the four corner boards are
removed. The
objective is for each player or team taking turns to create a path using their
color
translucent chips placed on the letters to create a word, and to extend that
path to create a
line from each of the four edges of the game board to all of the other edges
before any
other team creates a line from each of the four edges of the game board to the
other edges
with their color chips.
[0020] Another objective of the present disclosure is to generate a game
board using 16
individual boards in a two by eight array. The objective is for each player or
team taking
turns to create a path using their color translucent chips placed on the
letters to create a
word, and to extend that path to create a line from the top of the game board
to the bottom
before any other team creates a similar line from top to bottom.
[0021] Another objective of the present disclosure is to generate a game
board using 15
individual boards in a three by five array. The objective is for each player
or team taking
turns to create a path using their color,translucent chips placed on the
letters to create a
word, and to extend that path to create a line from the top of the game board
to the bottom
before any other team creates a similar line from top to bottom.
[0022] Another objective of the present disclosure is to generate a game
board using 16
individual boards in a four by four array. At the beginning of the game, each
player has a
fixed number of chips (i.e. 40). The objective is for each player or team
taking turns to
review the game board for a period of time and determine the longest word it
can make
from the letters on the game board. Once determined, each player states the
number of
letters in the longest word at the same time as the other players. The players
with the
longest word are allowed to place their chips on those letters. To the extent
there are no
chips placed on certain boards, the uncovered boards are then lifted, shuffled
and replaced
on the four by four array to generate a new board. The objective is to put
down a certain
number of chips on the ever changing game board, for example, 40 chips, before
any other
player has placed all 40 of their chips.
[0023] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide each of the
novel games
described herein in a virtual or simulated game in which the boards are
displayed on a
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monitor of a computer screen, a handheld electronic game, a tablet, cellular
telephone or
any other visual display. By providing the game board of the present
disclosure on a
computer-based medium, the games can be played by players in the same location
or
players located remotely from each other by using a global communication
network such as
the Internet. Further, the game play described herein can be used in
conjunction with
various social networks, such as Facebook and/or game websites, which allow
players or
subscribers to play games. The game play of the present disclosure can also be
provided
to players as an application and provided to players, for example, as an
iPhone application
or a Google application.
[0024] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide each of the
novel games
described herein in a game show format, such as one shown on television or the
Internet.
In the game show, participants play against each other by viewing a virtual or
simulated
game in which the boards are displayed on a monitor or other visual display.
The
participants obtain points for correct answers or for connecting a path from
one end of the
array to the other before the other player connects their line. Any of the
games described
herein can be incorporated into one or more segments for the players to score
points. At
the end of the segments, the participant with the highest score can enter a
bonus round,
wherein he or she plays a game against the clock for money or prizes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in
conjunction with
the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to the limit the
invention, where like
designations denote like elements, and in which:
[0026] Figure 1 illustrates an individual board containing a four by four
array of letters in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] Figure 2 illustrates a game board containing a four by four array of
individual
boards in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] Figure 3 illustrates a portion of a game board containing chips
placed on certain
letters in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] Figure 4 illustrates a portion of a game board containing chips
placed on certain
letters in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
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[0030] Figure 5 illustrates a game board containing a four by four array of
individual
boards in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] Figure 6 illustrates a game board containing a four by four array of
individual
boards containing chips placed on certain letters in accordance with the
preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] Figure 7 illustrates a game board containing a four by four array of
individual
boards containing chips placed on certain letters in accordance with the
preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] Figure 8 illustrates a game board containing a four by four array of
individual
boards containing chips placed on certain letters in accordance with the
preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] Figure 9 illustrates game boards containing various arrays of
individual boards in
accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] Figure 10 illustrates a portion of a game board containing a various
array of
individual boards containing chips placed on certain letters in accordance
with an
alternative embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] Figure 11 illustrates a portion of a game board containing a various
array of
individual boards containing chips placed on certain letters in accordance
with an
alternative embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] Figure 12 illustrates a game board that can be played on an
electronic device,
the game board displaying a six by six array of letters provided for an
exemplary game in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] Figure 13 illustrates a game board that can be played on an
electronic device,
the game board displaying a six by six array of letters provided for another
exemplary game
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] Figure 14 illustrates a game board that can be played on one or more
electronic
devices by multiple players, the game board displaying a sixteen by sixteen
array of letters
provided for an exemplary game in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention; and
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[0040] Figure 15 illustrates an exemplary computer system or network
architecture that
may be used to implement the system and methods according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0041] Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an individual board 12
containing
letters 14 imprinted on the board 12. In the preferred embodiment, the board
12 contains a
four by four array of letters, such that each board 12 contains 16 letters 14.
The number of
letters 14 and the size of the array can be varied and still fall within the
scope of the present
disclosure, such that the array could be five by five with 25 letters 14, or
three by five with
15 letters. Further, each individual board 12 will have a different array of
letters 14 from the
other boards 12 and can be imprinted with the letters 14 on both sides.
[0042] Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a game board 10 configured
with 6
individual boards 12 placed in a four by four array. With this game board 10
configuration,
there are 16 letters 14 across each row and 16 letters 14 down each column,
creating 256
letters 14. With this game board 10 configuration, a number of different game
boards 10
can be generated by simply rearranging the location of the boards 12 in the
game board 10
configuration. Further, as described above, by printing different letters 14
on each board
12, 16 different boards 12 (32 total) can be used to generate many different
four by four
game boards 10 for playing the same game with a different game board 10 each
time.
[0043] Once a game board 10 has been created by placing the individual
boards 12 in a
pattern as required by the rules of a particular game, the game can be played.
Further,
most of the games played using the individual boards 12 and the game board 10
(regardless of how the game board 10 is configured), incorporate chips (see
Figure 3 for an
example). In the preferred embodiment, colored translucent chips are used to
indicate both
a player or team and the letter 14 that has been used by that team.
[0044] To begin a particular game, the boards 12 are shuffled and arranged
in a pattern
designed for the particular board game 10 to be played. In the preferred
embodiment, the
board game 10 consists of 16 boards 12 arranged in a four by four array. Each
player or
team selects a set of colored chips. In the board game 10 of the preferred
embodiment,
two to four players play individually or four to eight players play in teams
of two. The game
begins by the roll of a die (or any other determination) to decide will start
the game. After
the first player or team finishes its turn, play can continue to the left.
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[0045] Each player or team takes a turn attempting to spell a single word
on the game
board 10 by placing their colored chips on the squares containing the printed
letters 14.
Each player can announce the word being spelled as the chips are placed.
[0046] Figure 3 shows a portion of the game board 10 containing a two by
six array of
letters 14. During player A's turn, player A would announce GARNET and place
six
translucent chips 16 corresponding to player A's color over the letters 14 "G"
"A" "R" "N" "E"
and "T". The adjacent letters 14 can be to the right or left, above or below,
and diagonal to
the previous letter 14. In Figure 3, the "R" and the "N" are adjacent
diagonally.
[0047] In the preferred embodiment, words may be spelled in any
direction, from left to
right, right to left, up or down, diagonally, or any combination of these, as
long as the
square of each letter 14 in the word is adjacent to or touching the square of
the word's very
next letter 14. In the preferred embodiment, a player may not use the same
letter 14 more
than once in the same word, however, alternative embodiments may allow such
usage.
, [0048] Figure 4 shows another portion of a game board 10 with a six by
four array.
Figure 4 shows how chips 16 can be laid down on the game board 10 to create
the two
words ROMP and HINTED, which can be combined to create a path or line for a
particular
player or team. The "P" in ROMP sits below the "H" in Hinted to create two
paths, from the
"P" in ROMP up to the "T" in HINTED, and from the "0" in ROMP to the "D" in
HINTED. As
such, regardless of the beginning or end of a word, the path may use other
letters 14 to get
from point to point on the game board 10.
[0049] As stated above, a player may re-use letters 14 which were covered
previously
by that player's colored chips 16, in order to spell a new word. The player
does not have to
lay another chip 16 on top of any chip 16 placed on the game board 10.
Instead, the
previous letter 14 is included as part of the word. However, a player may not
use another
player's chip 16 to spell a word.
[0050] In team play, there can be two players per team. Play passes back
and forth
between the teams with partners taking turns to make the next word. Partners
on a team
share the same set of colored chips 16. In the preferred embodiment, team
members are
not allowed to help by pointing out words or direct play.
[0051] In the preferred game play, the boards 12 are shuffled and
arranged into the four
by four configuration or pattern shown in Figure 5 in which each square is a
board 12 and
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each board 12 contains a four by four array of letters 14. The object of the
game is to
create a continuous winding path or line of same colored chips 16 stretching
from one edge
of the game board 10 to the other edge, either from side to side or from top
to bottom. A
player may spell words anywhere on the game board 10 and any new word does not
have
to touch any previous words, until the end of the game. Players must play
offensively by
extending their own line, and also play defensively by blocking the opponents'
lines.
[0052] The winning player is the first player to create a continuous,
unbroken winding
line of chips 16 stretching from one edge of the game board 10 to the other
edge, either
side to side or from top to bottom. As described above, a path or line is
continuous as long
as the player's chips 16 are touching adjacent chips 16 laterally, vertically,
or diagonally.
[0053] Figure 6 shows the first six plays of a game between two players, a
player using
red chips (Red) 18 and a player using blue chips (Blue) 20. First, Red spells
JUMPING 22
and Blue spells RIDER 24. Red then spells EATS 26 and Blue spells SLIPPING 28.
Next,
Red spells CANED 30 and Blue spells DRIP 32. Figure 6 shows that a number of
lines or
paths have been created by each player in both offensive and defensive
strategy. These
paths may or may not be used later in the game.
[0054] Each player's next three plays are shown in Figure 7. The Red
player's line from
left to right was cut off by the Blue player's simple word NOR 34, at the
right edge 36. After
being cut off from the right edge 36, the Red player then tried to impede
Blue's vertical line
with the words DENTED 38 and TREAT 40. But the Blue player successfully
connected the
Blue line through to the bottom edge 42 with the pair of words GINS 44 and SET
46.
[0055] Figure 8 shows the game board 10 after the Blue player made the
final moves
and won the game. The yellow line 48 indicates Blue's winning line from the
top edge 50 of
the game board 10 to the bottom edge 42. The last few plays began with Red
locking the
upper right corner 52 with TATERS 54. Next, Blue cut through Red's line with
DOGS 56.
Red sealed one upper right gap with CENT 58, however, Blue won the game by
connecting
through to the top edge 50 with the word YEARLY 60.
[0056] Other games, similar and different to the game described above can
be played
using these boards 12 and the game board 10. Various modifications can be made
to the
rules of the preferred embodiment set forth above and still be covered by the
scope of the
present disclosure. Further, a player can be handicapped by the game play so
that players
of different ages or abilities can play against each other with a level
playing field. For
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example, in one embodiment, an adult may be prohibited from using three letter
words to
make their path while the child does not have that same prohibition. In
another
embodiment, a ratio of turns can be established such that, for example, the
younger player
may be allowed two turns for each of the adult's turn, or the younger player
is allowed three
turns for each of the adult's two turns.
[0057] In an alternative game play using the boards 12 and game board 10 of
the
present disclosure, the boards 12 are shuffled and arranged in either a two by
eight 62 or
three by five 64 array as shown in Figure 9. For this game, of which the
object is to race
the other player or team from the top edge 66 to the bottom edge 68, the two
by eight array
62 can be used for two player or team games, while the three by five array 64
can be used
for three player or team games. Of course, other board 12 patterns or
configurations can
be used.
[0058] As stated above, the object of the game is to create a continuous
winding line of
the player's colored chips 16 starting at the top edge 66 and extending
continuously from
the game board's top edge 66 to its bottom edge 68. Each player's first word
must include
at least one letter which is in the very top edge 66 row of letters 14. After
this first word,
each subsequent word must touch at least one letter 14 from one of the
player's previous
words.
[0059] This game allows for players to block the other player's line. The
winning player
or team is the first player or team to create a continuous, unbroken winding
line of chips 16
starting at the very top edge 66 and extending all the way to include a letter
14 from the
very bottom edge 68 of letters 14.
[0060] Figure 10 shows the alternative game play in which Blue spells the
word TRADE
70 using at least one letter "E" 72 in the top edge 66. Red then spells the
word RAILS 74,
with the letters "L" 76 and "S" 78 in the top row 66. Blue then extends its
line with the word
REARS 80 using the "R" 82 from TRADE 70 as the first letter in REARS 80. Red
then
spells EGRETS 84 and cuts through Blue's line. Next, Blue places its chips 16
to form the
word RENEGADE 86 and Red creates the word LUGERS 88.
[0061] Figure 11 shows the ending moves of the alternative game. The Red
and Blue
players have laid down a number of words creating the game board shown in
Figure 11.
The Blue player spells ALIGN 90 to move its line to the game board's 10
center. Red then
spells NOBS 92 to pull even with Blue. Blue closes off the board with the word
OPENS 94
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almost cutting off Red completely, but Red lays down CROON 96 and cuts through
Blue's
line. Red can next play either DUDE 98 or GIN 100 to win, however, it is
Blue's turn and
Blue can play RETIRE 102 to connect to the previous word OPENS 94 and win the
game.
[0062] In order to make the games more playable, the boards 12 contain the
same
frequency of letters as most words in the English language, however, the
boards have been
configured for letters such that there is an increase of frequency of "ING",
"ED" and "ER
endings.
[0063] In the unlikely event of a tie, the tie breaker rule is that the
winner is whichever
player or team has the most chips 16 on the board at the end of the game.
[0064] The game play described above can be incorporated with a clock that
requires
players or teams to create a word within a limited amount of time and helps
move the game
along.
[0065] In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a game board
using 16
individual boards in a four by four array is set up. Any number of boards can
be used for
this game, however, the preferred embodiment utilizes a four by four array of
boards. At
the beginning of the game, the boards are set out and each player or team
reviews the
game board for a period of time (i.e., one minute) to determine the longest
word the player
or team can make from the letters on the game board. Each player or team has a
fixed
number of chips (i.e. 40), and the objective is for each player or team to
place all of the
chips on the board.
[0066] When time expires, each player or team states the number
corresponding with
the number of letters in the longest word that they have determined from the
game board.
The player or team states the number at the same time as the others. The
players with the
highest number are allowed to place their chips on those letters. Next, and to
the extent
there are no chips placed on a particular board (of the 16 in this example),
the uncovered
boards are then lifted, shuffled and replaced to again generate a four by four
array. The
game continues in the same manner with the objective to place all of the chips
on the ever
changing game board, before any other player or team has placed all of their
chips.
[0067] In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a game board is
created
using 16 individual boards shuffled and placed in a four by four array for a
game of solitaire.
Any number of boards can be used for this game, however, the preferred
embodiment
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utilizes a four by four array of boards. At the beginning of the game, the
boards are set out
and the object is for one player to create a continuous line of chips that
touches at least one
letter on each of the 16 boards that make up the game board. The goal is to
complete the
line using the least number of words possible. Accordingly, the player may
place a chip on
the side of the game board for each word used thereby keeping track of the
number of
words needed to complete the line.
[0068] In yet another similar embodiment of the present disclosure, a game
board is
created using 16 individual boards shuffled and placed in a four by four
array. Any number
of boards can be used for this game, however, the preferred embodiment
utilizes a four by
four array of boards. Similar to the game of solitaire above, at the beginning
of the game,
the boards are set out and the object is for one player to create a continuous
line of chips,
however the line must travel first from one side of the game board to the
other, and then,
from the top of the game board to the bottom. The second line must "break
through" the
first line without using any letters from the first line, thus the break
through. Again, the goal
is to complete the lines using the least number of words possible.
Accordingly, the player
may place a chip on the side of the game board for each word used thereby
keeping track
of the number of words needed to complete the lines.
[0069] In another embodiment, the individual boards 12 can be printed with
designs
taking up one or more of the letters 14 on the array. These designs overlap or
replace the
letters 14 and serve to force the player to "go around" the space to make the
line or path.
These designs can be mountains, ponds, devils, etc. or just black squares
indicating that
the square is not available to use for the line or path. The designs can also
be separate
physical pieces that can be placed or located on the boards 12 or on the game
board 10.
Once placed or located (or if previously printed on the board 12) the game
board 10 now
contains certain impediments or blocks to stop the progression of a players
line or path.
The pieces can be the size of one or more squares thereby taking up the space
of one or
more letters and can be placed on the game board 10 before or during the game
play.
[0070] Figure 12 shows an example of a separate blocking piece 120 that can
be
placed or located on a game board 10 along with other separate blocking pieces
122, 124,
126, to create a game board 10 with various blocks. In this example, the four
separate
blocking pieces 120, 122, 124 and 126 force the players to change the line or
path to go
around the block. Using this example, a game of race, around the game board 10
can be
played. For example, in order to win the game, a player has to start at one
end 128, and
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generate a path around the block and back to the same end. Any of the games
described
herein can be played or modified using these or other similar blocks.
[0071] In a similar embodiment, instead of a block, the boards 12 can be
printed with
wild symbols, so that a player can use that particular wild symbol as any
letter when
creating the path or line. Again, the wild symbols can be included on the
board 12, by
printing, or incorporated as a separate piece placed prior to or during game
play.
[0072] Another embodiment provides for any of the game play described
herein, but
using numbers instead of letters. In order to create a path or line, the
player must generate
a mathematical formula using the numbers in the array next to each other. For
example, if
a 3 is adjacent to a 4 and a seven, the path may include the 3, 4 and 7 in a
equation (such
as 3 + 4 = 7). Using equations, the player or team places that team's chips or
tokens on
numbers and adjacent numbers to create mathematical equations, and thereby
creating a
line or path of chips. By using this line of chips and adding new mathematical
equations at
each turn, the player or team can form a line and connect various locations or
ends on the
game board, as described herein, or race from one end of the game board to the
other, etc.
[0073] In yet another embodiment, a board or computer game is provided in
which an
array of letters is revealed on a display to a player or players. Such a
display can be
associated with a game board, computer, mobile phone or computer tablet. The
various
games described herein or variations on those games can be played and
displayed.
[0074] In one non-limiting example, the display shows a six by six array of
letters and a
clue is provided for the player for each word to be found on the array along
with an arrow
indicating the direction that the resulting word(s) must travel. For example,
the clue might
be "SISTINE" with an arrow to the right with a result containing six letters.
If the player finds
the word "CHAPEL" by depressing or selecting the correct letters starting on
the left side
and moving across and ending on the right side, an indication will show that
the answer is
correct. There may be four (or more or less) hints or clues and resulting
answers before
the player completes this round.
[0075] In an alternative embodiment, one clue is provided for all the
answers. For
example, the clue might be for eight letter words that are mammals and the
arrows are
pointing down. The player must find four mammals with the word starting at the
top and
ending at the bottom. Again, the timer starts and keeps track of how long it
takes for the
player to find all four mammals. The score is greater for shorter times to
complete the
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array. Bonuses can be given to the player depending on the time; for example,
every
minute a multiplication bonus is reduced. Further, for touch screen displays,
the player can
enter the results by touching the letter on the array and the game will
indicate the selection
by changing colors, etc.
[0076] In yet another embodiment for a similar device, the player is
provided a four by
four array and one clue. The object is to find a single word that answers the
clue and also
touches all four corners of the array in the shortest amount of time.
[0077] In yet another embodiment for a similar device, the player is
provided a five by
ten array and a representation of a phrase or sentence with a few letters
filled in but all of
the remaining letters shown as underlines or boxes (blanks). The object is
identify all of the
unknown letters in the phrase (blanks) by touching the letters on the array,
thereby forming
a continuous connected line of letters which is all of the letters in the
phrase, excluding
punctuation and spaces, in correct beginning-to-end order.
[0078] These four exemplary games can be played on a device or as a board
game, in
segments or levels such that the player has to succeed at one level to be
allowed to try the
next level. Further, each of these games, either combined or separately, can
be played
against other players by sharing the device or remotely. Points can also be
accumulated at
each level and the final score can be compared to other players during a
specific time
period (one day, etc.) or at the same time.
[0079] In yet another embodiment, a game play similar to the game play
described
above for board games can be played in which a player attempts to join the top
to bottom
and the left and right side in the least number of connected words. Points can
be
established based on the size of the words used to make the connection and/or
a greater
score for using fewer words to connect the ends.
[0080] In yet another embodiment, a game play is provided in which, for
example, a six
by six array of letters is provided and the player must find a certain number
of words have
the required number of letters. For example, the player is timed to find five
words
containing three letters, four words containing four letters, three words
containing five
letters, and two words containing six letters. The player score is based on
time to locate all
the words, with the objective to complete the game in the shortest amount of
time.
Bonuses, or deductions of time, can be obtained for seven or more letter words
(for
example, subtract 30 seconds for each seven letter word), using all the words
in the grid
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(for example, subtract 1 minute) and finding double words, a word in both
directions (for
example, subtract 20 seconds), among others. Deductions, or additions of time,
can be
incorporated for using hints (for example, add 20 seconds). Of course,
numerous scoring
methods can be used to achieve similar results.
[0081] In another embodiment, the games described herein can be part of a
television
or Internet game show. For example, each of the segments or levels detailed
above can be
a separate segment in which players compete against each other for points. The
segments
are the same or different formats of connecting words on an array or guessing
the word on
the array based on clues provided. The players must select the correct word or
words to
complete the game board. The player with the highest score after the three
segments is
allowed to play the bonus round, which can be the attempt to connect the top
and bottom
and side to side in the least amount of words. Further, players watching the
show can also
play along for prizes.
[0082] Each of the novel game boards and game play described herein can be
played
using the physical game board. Further, each of the games can be played by
simulating
the boards and game boards on a display, such as a computer screen, a handheld
electronic game, a tablet, a cellular telephone, such as a smart phone, or any
other visual
display that is controlled by a microprocessor-based system.
[0083] The rules of the games described herein can be played in a similar
manner using
a microprocessor-based system and the games can be played by players in the
same
physical location or by players located remotely from each other. Such game
play is
understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by using a global
communication
network such as the Internet or an intranet. The game play can be provided to
players
using various social networks, such as Facebook, so that players can play
against each
other without the need for a physical board or being in the same location.
[0084] Further, the game play can be provided at or by websites that
provide computer
games and game play to subscribers of those website. In doing so, game
statistics can be
generated and recorded for individuals and team play. The game play of the
present
disclosure can also be provided to players as an application download to a
computer tablet
or smart phone, for example, as an iPhone application or a Google application.
[0085] Thus in some embodiments, the game board 10 may be electronic. With
reference to Figure 12, for example, an electronic game board 10 is shown for
use on a
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computer, a tablet, a mobile phone, a microprocessor-based system, or other
electronic
device. Some of these electronic devices may in fact have touch-screens.
Moreover, it
should be understood that some or many of the principles and features
described above
may be equally applicable to game boards 10 that are electronic. For instance,
similar to
the various embodiments described above, the game board 10 shown in Figure 12
may
provide a variety of games for one or more players. Conversely, some or many
of the
principles and features described below may be equally applicable to the game
boards 10
described above.
[0086] In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 12, the game board 10
challenges a player to locate words hidden within a six by six array of
letters 14. The player
may tap each letter 14 of a continuously winding word in sequence to identify
that word. In
the alternative, the player may drag a pointer, stylus, finger, or other
marker from letter 14
to letter 14 without having to individually tap each letter 14.
[0087] More specifically, at least one indicator 130 may inform a user of
requirements
for the types of words that must be located. Here, for example, four
indicators 130 inform
the player to locate one six-letter word extending generally left to right,
one six-letter word
extending generally top to bottom, one six-letter word extending generally
right to left, and
one six-letter word extending generally bottom to top. While all of the
indicators 130 are
shown to require six-letter words here, this is merely exemplary. Depending on
the difficulty
settings, the skill of the player, the "round," or some combination thereof,
the game board
may challenge the player to find words of varying length.
[0088] In some embodiments, a clue 132 may be provided near each indicator
130.
The exemplary clues 132 shown here correspond, respectively, to the name of a
desert, the
capital of Ireland, a gaseous planet, and the name of an American actor.
Further, a box
134 underneath each indicator 130 may show the correct word after the player
has located
the word.
[0089] A number of points 136 awarded for each correct word located may
also be
shown. For instance, the player was awarded 2,400 points for locating
"Sahara," 3,000
points for locating "Dublin," and "2,400 points for locating "Uranus." The
point scheme may
be based on the difficulty of locating a particular hidden word or an amount
of time elapsed
138 since the game began, for example. In other words, the player may receive
more
points for locating words quickly. A multiplier 140 corresponding to a "Time
Bonus" may
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inform the player of the benefit of finding words timely. In this example, one
minute and
eight seconds have elapsed, which corresponds to a multiplier 140 of "3X."
Thus assuming
one hundred points per letter per word, the player would only receive 1,800
points based on
the amount of time that has elapsed 138 for correctly identifying "Bogart" As
the player
taps each letter 14 of a word, the game board 10 may display a sequence 142 of
letters that
the player has selected. If the sequence 142 is incorrect (e.g., if the player
erroneously
selected an incorrect letter or one out of order), the player may simply tap a
"clear" button
144 to begin identifying the word again. As with many embodiments of the
present
disclosure, the game board 10 may notify the player once the player has
correctly identified
a word, when the player has incorrectly identified a word, or when the word
does not exist.
[0090] The game board 10 may also display a player profile 146. The player
profile 146
may be part of a larger player profile (not shown) and may indicate, for
example, how many
points the player has accumulated in a particular game and a name of the
current player.
The game board 10 may also provide a hint button 148 for players. The hint
button 148
may give players a hint for locating a word. The hint may be substantive, such
as providing
the first and last letters of a word, for instance. Or the hint may be visual,
such as
highlighting several letters 14 of a word on the game board 10, for example.
Use of the hint
button 148 may detrimentally impact the player's score, such as by adding time
or reducing
points. Moreover, the game board 10 may provide different levels of hints.
[0091] The game board 10 may further provide a help button 150, a
dictionary button
152, a pause/menu button 154, and an exit button 156 in some embodiments. The
help
button 150 may provide players with further information on the game, such as
directions on
how to play, for example. The dictionary button 152 may allow players to
verify words in a
dictionary, which depending on the electronic device may be stored locally or
may be stored
remotely. The pause/menu button 154 may pause the current game while
displaying a
menu for the player. In one embodiment, the letters 14 of the game board 10
may be
masked when the pause/menu button 154 is selected so that a player may not
stop the
elapsed time 138 while continuing to locate words. Moreover, the exit button
156 may allow
players to exit out of the game board 10 and return to an interface displayed
by the
electronic device.
[0092] Where the game board 10 is played on electronic devices having a
screen, it
should be understood that the game board 10 may operate similarly to that
described
above. For example, whereas a player may place a colored chip 16 on a letter
14 on a
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physical game board 10, the screen of an electronic device may display a
virtual colored
chip 16 on the letters 14 of a word that the player has correctly identified.
[0093] As the player interacts with the game board 10, visual aids may be
displayed on
the screen to assist the player. By way of example, circles 158 may be
displayed around
letters 14 as the player selects the letters 14 for a particular word. In
Figure 12, the player
has currently selected B-O-G-A-R. As a further example, the circles 158 may be
interconnected by lines 160 showing the path of letters 14 selected.
[0094] Although every feature of the game board 10 has not been fully
enumerated, it
should be understood that certain features of the game board 10 may vary from
one
embodiment to the next. To illustrate, in some games players may "reuse"
letters 14, while
in other games players may be prohibited from "reusing" letters 14. In some
games the last
letter of a word must terminate at an edge, while in other games the word must
simply
extend across the length or width of the array of letters 14. Hence the
described features
and embodiments are truly exemplary, and many variations of the game board 10
remain
within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0095] In one embodiment, once the player locates the words the game board
10 may
present the player with another game. For example, the game board 10 may
challenge the
player to locate a number of words that all relate to a particular theme or a
single clue.
Hints may again be available to assist the player with moving the game
forward. Likewise,
the player may be competing against a clock, and thus possible points may
decrease as
time elapses. The game board 10 may in some embodiments present the player
with a still
further game. For example, the game board 10 may challenge the player to find
a 10- or
11-letter word winding through a four by four array of letters. In one
variation, the game
board 10 may provide a clue to the player, and the word corresponding to the
clue must
touch all four corners of the array.
[0096] Turning now to Figure 13, yet another game is displayed on the game
board 10.
In this game, each indicator 130 may instruct the player to find a certain
quantity 162 of
words of a certain length. For example, the game board 10 here is instructing
the player to
find three 5-letter words. The player has already found two out of three 5-
letter words,
hence the "2/3." A list 164 beneath each indicator 130 may show the words that
the player
has already located. Thus one can see that the player has already found
"CHAPS" and
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"INDEX" under the 5-letter word category. Moreover, this game may be based on
elapsed
time 136 rather than points.
[0097] Because some shorter-length words may form a portion of longer-
length words,
a button 166, for example "ENTER", may be provided. The player may then tap
that button
166 when he or she desires to register a located word. The game board 10 need
not
assume whether the player was trying for a shorter word or a longer word.
[0098] This game along with other games may accord the player more or less
points
depending on the type of words located. For instance, a "double word" that has
a second
meaning when its letters are reversed (e.g., "tops" and "spot") may be worth
more points or
may reduce the elapsed time 136, depending on how the game is scored. As a
further
example, players that can utilize every letter 14 on an array may be awarded a
bonus in the
form of added points or reduced elapsed time 136. A status 168 on the game
board 10
may inform the player of the percentage of letters 14 on the array that have
been utilized
thus far. Bonuses may also be awarded to players that locate words having
seven or more
letters, for example. Still further, a player may be docked points or time
where the player
locates words that are derivatives of one another (e.g., "gap" and "gaps").
[0099] In another embodiment, the game board 10 may challenge a player to
locate a
string of words within a sixteen by sixteen array of letters 14. The game may
first require
the player to locate a string of words that connect the left and right sides
of the array. The
game may then require the player to locate a string of words that connect the
top and
bottom of the array. The words located in the left-right string may remain
highlighted with
virtual colored chips as the player locates a string of words from the top to
bottom. In some
variations, the player must cross over the left-right string so as not to
"use" a letter 14
forming one of the words in the left-right string. In other words, the player
must create a
diagonal connection to cross the left-right string. In other variations,
though, the game
board 10 may allow the player to use letters from the left-right string of
words to create the
top-bottom string of words.
[00100] In this embodiment, the game may not necessarily track elapsed time.
Rather,
points may be based on the number of words required to create the left-right
and top-
bottom strings. Thus players that use longer words may be rewarded
accordingly. Further,
because of the size of the array in this embodiment, the game board 10 may
include
features that assist players. For example, once the player selects a letter
14, the screen
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may zoom in on the selected letter 14 and letters 14 nearby. Another example
involves the
use of a rotate button. The rotate button may allow the player to rotate the
array 180
degrees while maintaining the letters 14 in an upright, readable format. Such
rotation
allows players sitting across from one another to play the game on a device
positioned
between them without having to move the device between turns.
[00101] Still another game is shown in Figure 14. The game shown can be played
by
multiple players (e.g., two, three, four) sharing a single electronic device
or can be played
by multiple players at different locations. The objective of the game may be
to locate a
string of words that connect the top and bottom or left and right sides of a
sixteen by sixteen
array. Virtual colored chips 16 may indicate which player located a word
comprised of
particular letters 14. Further, players may attempt to "block" one another by
locating words
in each other's paths. Players may only "cross" another player's string of
words at
diagonals, as described above in at least one of single player embodiments.
[00102] The game board 10 shown in Figure 14 may also include a zoom button
170 and
a rotate button 172. The zoom button 170 may allow players to zoom in on a
particular
section of the array. Once zoomed in, the player may move the view to
different sections of
the array. The rotate button 172 may allow the player to rotate the array 180
degrees while
maintaining the letters 14 in an upright, readable format. The game board 10
may be
returned to a default view after each player's turn.
[00103] In some embodiments, each player may be allotted a certain amount of
total
time, the idea being that once a player has run out of time, that player
loses. During a
player's turn, that player's allotment of total time may count down towards
zero, and
continue counting down with each successive turn. Once a player identifies a
word on the
array, though, the next player's total time starts counting down.
[00104] While the description thus far has focused largely on the game board
10 and its
multitude of embodiments, also important is the hardware and infrastructure
that support
the game board 10. Figure 15 illustrates an exemplary computer system 200, or
network
architecture, that may be used to implement the game board 10 in electronic
devices
according to the present disclosure. One or more computer systems 200 may
carry out the
methods presented herein as computer code. One or more processors, such as
processor
220, which may be a special purpose or a general-purpose processor is
connected to a bus
210. As shown in Figure 15, bus 210 connects the processor 220 to various
other
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components of the computer system 200, but it is contemplated bus 210 may
connect
processor 220 to components (not shown) such as, sensors, and servomechanisms.
It is
also contemplated that bus 210 connects the processor 220 to other computer
systems.
Via the bus 210, the processor 220 can receive computer code. The term
"computer code"
includes, for example, programs, instructions, signals and/or data. The
processor 220
executes computer code and may further send the computer code via the bus 210.
[00105] The computer system 200 may include one or more memories, such as
first
memory 230 and second memory 240. It is contemplated that the first memory
230,
secondary memory 240, or a combination thereof function as a computer usable
storage
medium to store and/or access computer code. The first memory 230 and second
memory
240 may be, for example, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a
mass storage device, or any combination thereof.
[00106] As shown in Figure 15, one embodiment of second memory 240 is a mass
storage device 243, although it is contemplated that first memory 230 may be
the mass
storage device. The mass storage device 243 comprises a storage drive 245 and
a storage
media 247. It is contemplated the storage media 247 may or may not be
removable from
the storage drive 245. Mass storage devices 243 with storage media 247 that
are
removable, otherwise referred to as removable storage media, allow computer
code to be
transferred to and/or from the computer system 200.
[00107] A mass storage device 243 may include, for example, a Compact Disc
Read-
Only Memory ("CDROM"), ZIP storage device, tape storage device, magnetic
storage
device, optical storage device, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems ("MEMS"),
nanotechnological storage device, floppy storage device, hard disk device.
Mass storage
device 243 also includes program cartridges and cartridge interfaces (such as
that found in
video game devices), removable memory chips (such as an EPROM, or PROM) and
associated sockets.
[00108] The computer system 200 may further or alternatively include other
means for
computer code to be loaded into or removed from the computer system 200, for
example,
input/output ("I/O") interface 250 and/or communications interface 260. Both
the I/O
interface 250 and the communications interface 260 allow computer code to be
transferred
between the computer system 200 and external devices including other computer
systems.
This transfer may be bi-directional or omni-direction to or from the computer
system 200.
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[00109] Computer code transferred by the I/O interface 250 and the
communications
interface 260 are typically in the form of signals, which may be electronic,
electromagnetic,
optical, or other signals capable of being sent and/or received by the
interfaces. These
signals may be transmitted via a variety of modes including, but not limited
to, wire or cable,
fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, infrared ("IR"), and radio
frequency ("RF")
link.
[00110] The I/O interface 250 may be any connection, wired or wireless, that
allows the
transfer of computer code. An I/O interface 250 includes, for example, an
analog or digital
audio connection, digital video interface ("DVI"), video graphics adapter
("VGA"), musical
instrument digital interface ("MIDI"), parallel connection, PS/2 connection,
serial connection,
universal serial bus connection ("USB"), IEEE1394 connection, PCMCIA slot and
card. In
certain embodiments the I/O interface connects to an I/O unit 255 such as a
user interface,
monitor, speaker, printer, touch screen display, to name a few.
[00111] The communications interface 260 is also any connection that allows
the transfer
of computer code. Communication interfaces include, but are not limited to, a
modem,
network interface (such as an Ethernet card), wired or wireless systems (such
as Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, IR), local area networks, wide area networks, intranets, etc.
[00112] One aspect of the present disclosures is also directed to computer
products,
otherwise referred to as computer program products, to provide software that
includes
computer code to the computer system 200. Processor 220 executes the computer
code in
order to implement the methods of the present invention. As an example, the
methods
according to the present invention may be implemented using software that
includes the
computer code, wherein the software is loaded into the computer system 200
using a
memory 230, 240 such as the mass storage drive 243, or through an I/O
interface 250,
communications interface 260, or any other interface with the computer system
200. The
computer code in conjunction with the computer system 200 described herein may
perform
any one of, or any combination of, the steps of any of the methods presented
herein. It is
also contemplated that the methods according to the present invention may be
performed
automatically, or may be invoked by some form of manual intervention.
[00113] The computer system 200, or network architecture, of Figure 15 is
provided only
for purposes of illustration, such that the present invention is not limited
to this specific
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embodiment. It is appreciated that a person skilled in the relevant art knows
how to
program and implement the invention using any computer system or network
architecture.
[00114] The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as
illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention is,
therefore, indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Those of skill in
the art will
recognize changes, substitutions and other modifications that will nonetheless
come within
the scope of the invention and range of the claims.
24
