Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of playing piece according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a cartesian system of axes adopted for play in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 3
a-3k are perspective views of alternative embodiments of playing piece according to the present invention;
FIGS. 4
a-4d are side elevation views of yet further alternative embodiments of playing piece according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates a word formed along one axis using six playing pieces of the type illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 illustrates the word of FIG. 5 to which a second word is added along a second axis using four further playing pieces of the type illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 illustrates the two words of FIG. 6 to which a third word is added along a third axis using three further playing pieces of the type illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the use of two playing pieces as ‘blocking pieces’ with the three words formed in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 illustrates the use of a ‘wildcard’ playing piece;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a playing piece according to a yet further embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate words formed along the three axes using playing pieces of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 11.
The present invention provides apparatus for playing a game and simply comprises one or more playing pieces which are laid down on a surface and/or each other in accordance with rules of the game.
A first preferred embodiment of playing piece 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Each such playing piece 10 is in the form of a known cube-like die (i.e. has six similarly sized sides 15 of substantially square form which may be provided with radius edges and corners). Each of the six sides 15 are known as ‘game sides’ 15 and are related to one another as are the sides of a cube. Each playing piece 10 is provided with two like ‘game indicia’ 20 only (e.g. alphabetic, numeric or other indicia types), one on each of two perpendicular sides 15. These two like game indicia 20 are positioned on the respective two game sides 15 so that they have the same orientation when viewed from above and from the front of the playing piece 10, as can best be seen in FIG. 1. The remaining four game sides 15 of each playing piece 10 remain blank or are otherwise visibly distinct from the two game sides 15 comprising like game indicia 20. The term ‘like game indicia’ used herein takes the meaning that the same message, meaning or visual indication is conveyed by the two like indicia 20 to a player or spectator of the game. For example, two like game indicia 20 may comprise ‘A’ (uppercase) and ‘a’ (lowercase), different typeface ‘A’s or differently coloured ‘A’ and ‘A’. Nonetheless, whichever example is adopted, the meaning of the letter ‘A’ is conveyed to players and spectators of the game. Further indicia may be provided in addition to the like game indicia 20 and these further indicia may be the same or different to each other but not the same as the like game indicia 20. The six game sides 15 of each playing piece 10 are substantially planar so as to enable the playing pieces 10 to be stacked adjacent to and/or on top of one another to facilitate play during a game (i.e. in the manner of a cube-like die). Velcro®, magnetic or other temporary fastening means may optionally be provided on some or each playing piece 10 to enable each playing piece 10 to be removably attached to another one or more playing pieces 10 during play. Each playing piece 10 may form part of a set of playing pieces 10 used for playing a game. For example, in this first preferred embodiment, each playing piece 10 comprises an indicia of the English language alphabet as its like game indicia 20, and the set comprises at least twenty-six playing pieces 10, one for each letter of the alphabet. Ideally, to provide enough letters for play, more than one set may be employed or each set may comprise playing pieces 10 for each of the at least twenty-six letters of the alphabet plus be provided with additional numbers of playing pieces 10 for, say, vowels, for example. Other characters or symbols (e.g. !,″,£,$,%,̂,&,?,* etc.) may be provided on one or more playing pieces 10 in a set to provide a ‘wildcard’ or other function as illustrated in FIG. 10 and described further below. Other sets of playing pieces 10 may be offered in addition to or as an alternative to the English alphabet set described above. Examples include alternative language alphabets, themed, merchandised or other character/indicia sets. Furthermore, a set of playing pieces 10 may take the form of truncated or selective set of what would otherwise form a full set. Also, bespoke sets of playing pieces 10 are also possible.
It is envisaged that the apparatus of the present invention may be utilised in a number of different games having different rules of play. An example of a game played using playing pieces 10 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only. The game may be played by any number of players from one upwards. In practice, the number of players is restricted only by the number of playing pieces 10 in the set. Accordingly, the number of playing pieces 10 provided in a set is of course variable to cater for this. The game commences with each of the players selecting at random a number of playing pieces 10 from the available set. Each player's selection is referred to as their ‘hand’. Typically, each player selects seven playing pieces 10. Preferably, each player holds the playing pieces 10 in a manner such that they may not be viewed by any other player of the game. A player is selected to start the game. The choice of which player starts may be defined in the rules or may be arbitrary. The first player lays down one or more playing pieces 10 from their hand to form a word. Playing pieces 10 can be laid down on any one of their game sides 15 in any of the three axes illustrated in FIG. 2 (i.e. ‘across’, ‘down’ or ‘vertical’) to form one or more words. The axes illustrated define the planes in which words may be created and the directions in which they should be read. As in a crossword puzzle, the indicia 20 seen from above or front of each playing piece 10 can be read across and/or down. All playing pieces 10 that are laid down should be in sufficiently close proximity with all other playing pieces 10 previously laid down that any game indicia 20 on a game face 15 to be covered cannot be readily seen. Optionally, once the word or words have been formed by the laying down of playing pieces 10 a score may be determined and allotted to the player in accordance with predefined rules. The score may be determined according to a points system in which points are allotted in dependence upon the value of the game indicia 20 of each playing piece 10. If the same word is visible from two directions e.g. from above and from the front, this may qualify for one score or two scores, again in dependence upon the rules of the game. Addition of the points scored by a player in each turn of play may provide a total score to be allocated to that player. The player then replenishes their hand by taking at random a number of new playing pieces 10 corresponding to the number of playing pieces 10 laid down. If at the start of his or her turn of play that player is unable to create a word or does not wish to lay down any playing pieces 10 from their hand, then the next player takes their turn. A first turn of play of a game is exemplified in FIG. 5. Here, the word ‘simple’ can be seen to have been formed from six playing pieces 10 laid down in the ‘across’ direction of play. The word ‘simple’ can be read from the front and from above. The next player then takes their turn. If the next player wishes to lay down playing pieces 10 to form a word then at least one of these playing pieces 10 must be positioned adjacent to or so as to adjoin one of the playing pieces 10 that has been laid down previously. FIG. 6 exemplifies a second turn of play of the same game. Here, the word ‘words’ can be seen to have been formed from four additional playing pieces 10 laid down in the ‘down’ direction of play. It will be appreciated that the word could have been formed in the ‘vertical’ direction of play as described below for the next turn of play with reference to FIG. 7. This second word can be read in the ‘down’ direction, but is visible from above only and not directly from the front due to the adjacent positioning of the playing pieces 10. This can have an effect on scoring in dependence upon the rules of the game. FIG. 7 exemplifies a further word ‘pile’ formed in the ‘vertical’ direction of play from three additional playing pieces 10. This may be as part of a continuation of the second turn of play (provided that player has enough playing pieces 10 to do so) or may be a new third turn of play. Indeed, in any turn of play a player may form more than one word provided they have enough playing pieces 10 in their hand to do so.
In a further aspect of the game, the playing pieces 10 may be laid down on a game face 15 in an orientation in which no game indicia 20 (letters in this embodiment) are visible. In this orientation, the playing pieces 10 act as blanks which enable other playing pieces 10 to be laid down to create words that would not otherwise be possible. An example of the use of playing pieces 10 in this manner is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8, two playing pieces 50, 60 can be seen positioned on top of and adjacent to other playing pieces 10 such that neither of the game indicia 20 provided on playing pieces 50, 60 are visible. These two playing pieces 50, 60 act as supporting blocks for a third playing piece 70 as can be seen in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 illustrates the completed turn, started in FIG. 8, with the playing piece 70 in position to form the word ‘up’ in the ‘across’ direction (seen from above and front).
The game finishes when either all of the playing pieces 10 have been laid down or when it is not possible to validly lay down any further playing pieces 10. It may be that the rules dictate the player that has been allotted the greatest number of points is deemed to have won the game.
FIG. 10 illustrates further possibilities in a game. The word ‘them’ is formed in a ‘vertical’ direction. The top playing piece 80 is positioned such that no game indicia 20 is visible from above. Also illustrated in FIG. 10 is a ‘wildcard’ playing piece 90 having ‘?’ as the indicium 20. This has the effect that two words ‘simple’ or ‘sample’ can be formed in the single run ‘across’ of playing pieces 10. Furthermore, playing piece 100 illustrates the use the numeral ‘3’ as a game indicium 20 to generate commonly used terms such as, for example, ‘3D’.
In FIG. 11, there is illustrated a perspective view of a playing piece 210 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the like game indicia 220 are provided on two perpendicular sides 215 of the playing piece such that words formed using this type of playing piece 210 can be read from the front and one side. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate words formed along the three axes using playing pieces of the type illustrated in FIG. 11 and in FIG. 1. The use of sets of both types of playing piece 10, 210 gives players of the game many more options for play as can be readily appreciated from the words formed in these Figures. In FIG. 13, for example, there is shown a solution using combinations of the two types of playing pieces 10, 210. Most of the solution is that as shown in FIG. 12 with the playing pieces 210 of FIG. 11, but the playing pieces 110, 120 representing indicia ‘P’ and ‘I’ respectively are formed with playing pieces 10 of the form illustrated in FIG. 1.
The playing pieces 10, 210 may be formed from any natural or man-made materials such as, for example, wood, stone, metal, plastic, glass, composite material or any combination thereof.
The playing of a three-dimensional word game using the playing pieces of the present invention may be facilitated by the use of any surface. However, a bespoke platform may be used as a playing surface (e.g. a stage or staggered platform). Preferably, such a bespoke platform may be made of a transparent material. In order to help form and maintain the three dimensional shapes on such a platform using playing pieces 10, 210, the platform and/or playing pieces 10, 210 may be provided with support rods, magnets and/or magnetic surfaces, Velcro® or any other temporary mechanical fastening means. It is envisaged that these variations of the present invention will be of particular utility/interest in travel versions of the game.
Alternative embodiments of playing piece in accordance with the present invention are shown in FIGS. 3a-3k and FIGS. 4a-4d. What is common to all embodiments of playing piece according to the present invention and described herein is that each has six key sides 15 or planes (the so-called ‘game sides’ or ‘game faces’) on which the playing piece 10 may be laid down or stacked. These six key game sides or faces are arranged in a cube-like orientation relative to one another and two, but only two, of these game sides have or display therethrough the like game indicia.
FIG. 3
a illustrates a playing piece taking the form of a hollow box with part of one side missing. The two game indicia may be arranged on two perpendicular sides in accordance with the orientation described for the playing piece of FIG. 1 (as shown) or of FIG. 11.
FIG. 3
b illustrates a hollow box with part of two opposite sides missing, so that it can be seen through. The two like game indicia are arranged according to the orientation of the game indicia of FIG. 1, but they could alternatively be arranged as in FIG. 11.
FIG. 3
c illustrates a hollow box with part of three sides missing, so that it can be seen through. As with the other playing pieces, it can be stacked or laid down on any one of its six game sides. The game indicia are arranged according to the game indicia of FIG. 1, but they could alternatively be arranged as in FIG. 11. Alternatively, the indicia could have been placed on the left and top outer sides of the playing piece 10 as viewed.
FIG. 3
d illustrates a solid transparent playing piece with four sides rendered opaque so that it can be seen through such as in the direction of the arrow as shown. The game indicia are arranged according to the orientation shown in FIG. 1 but could have been arranged as shown in FIG. 11.
FIG. 3
e illustrates a transparent playing piece with three sides rendered opaque so that it can be seen through in certain directions only. The game indicia are arranged according to the game indicia of FIG. 1, but they could alternatively be arranged as in FIG. 11. Also, the game indicia could have been placed on the left and top sides of the playing piece as viewed.
FIG. 3
f illustrates a transparent playing piece with two sides rendered opaque so that it can be seen through in certain directions only. The game indicia are arranged according to the to the game indicia of FIG. 1, but they could alternatively be arranged as in FIG. 11.
FIG. 3
g illustrates another alternative to the FIG. 3c embodiment of playing piece but with the game indicia arranged on different sides. One game indicium is effectively inside the playing piece and can be viewed best from the side (the right hand side as shown). Strictly speaking, as viewed, the game indicia are arranged in a different orientation to that of FIG. 1 and FIG. 11, but they are arranged so as to be of the same orientation when viewed from the upper right hand side of the playing piece. Alternatively, the game indicia could be arranged as in FIG. 1 or FIG. 11.
FIG. 3
h illustrates a solid transparent version of the FIG. 3g embodiment of playing piece. The game indicia could be provided on different surfaces to those indicated in this Figure.
FIG. 3
i illustrates another alternative embodiment of a solid but transparent playing piece. The like game indicia are arranged on the inside of the transparent playing piece. Again, the game indicia can be seen from the top and the side, the latter shown by the arrow. The game indicia are arranged according to the orientation shown in FIG. 1 but could alternatively be arranged as shown in FIG. 11. Also, the game indicia could be provided on different surfaces or sides to those indicated in this Figure.
FIGS. 3
j and 3k illustrate yet further possible embodiments of playing piece according to the present invention. Each can be placed on a surface or another playing piece on any of its six game sides and the like game indicia may be located on any two surfaces or sides perpendicular to each other. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the game indicia may even be provided inside of an at least partially transparent playing piece (e.g. a solid version of the FIG. 3k embodiment shown with the indicia encased within).
FIGS. 4
a-4d illustrate two further possible embodiments of playing piece according to the present invention. In FIG. 4a there is illustrated a shape where six substantially equally-sized faces are cut into a sphere. The faces are related as are the sides of a cube. The view towards all six game sides will be the same as shown, save that the view of or through two perpendicular game sides will yield the like game indicia arranged as in either FIG. 1 or FIG. 11. The size of the face could of course differ from that indicated. A transparent version of this type of playing piece, having opaque faces, could be also be used. FIG. 4b illustrates the same shape of playing piece as in FIG. 4a, but with a hole through the centre. The like game indicia are provided on the perpendicular game sides indicated by the arrows.
FIG. 4
c illustrates an example of a polyhedron which has six game sides related in the manner of those of a cube, two perpendicular game sides of which are marked with, or enable a player to view, the like game indicia (one being visible in this Figure). A transparent version of this type of playing piece could also be used. FIG. 4d illustrates the same shape of playing piece as in FIG. 4c, but with a hole through the centre. The game indicia are provided on the faces indicated by the arrows.
It will be appreciated that many further embodiments of playing piece are possible within the scope of the present invention. What is common to all embodiments of playing piece according to the present invention, however, is that each playing piece has six key sides, faces or planes (the so-called ‘game sides’) on which the playing piece may be laid down or stacked. These six key game sides are arranged in a cube-like orientation relative to one another and two, but only two, of these game sides have, display or enable to be viewed therethrough the like game indicia.
Whilst the game indicia described herein can be printed on a game side or take the form of decals, embossing, etching or engraving on or within a playing piece, it will be appreciated that many other embodiments are possible. For example, the game indicia on each playing piece may be achieved using mirrors or mirrored surfaces, holograms and/or an electronic visual display(s) such as an LCD or other thin screen display element.
A game side, face or plane of a playing piece is that on which it may be rested or stacked. The game side may filled, open and/or its boundaries may be incomplete, as indicated in the Figures. Also, it will be appreciated that the terms ‘side’, ‘face’ and ‘plane’ referred to herein take the same meaning and are used interchangeably.
The present invention is not limited to the physical apparatus described and it will be appreciated that the game could be equally well embodied in apparatus comprising electrical or electronic apparatus, typically a computer, games console or mobile telephone. The electrical or electronic apparatus will be provided with display means, typically a visual display unit or thin screen display (e.g. an LCD) and also with input means, typically a keyboard, game controller, joystick, mouse or touch screen. The electrical or electronic apparatus may act as the interface between two or more players or may itself act as a player. The electrical or electronic apparatus will create and display the necessary playing pieces and the location of playing pieces that have been laid down in accordance with a player's input (or input of the electronic processing means where it acts as a player) and will, where necessary, calculate the score to be allotted to a player for those playing pieces laid down. The electrical or electronic apparatus will also act as a randomiser for the selection of playing pieces to make up the initial complement allocated to a player and to replace those playing pieces laid down by a player. The electrical or electronic apparatus may take the form of a personal computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), telephone or mobile telephone, television, GameBoy®, PlayStation®, XBox® or other device, for example.
It will be appreciated that the present invention addresses two key problems of the prior art. The first is the nonsense words seen at the back of cubes which have letters on all faces and the second is a method of supporting the playing pieces in the vertical direction. The first problem is overcome by having like game indicia on only two of the sides of a playing piece having six game sides arranged in a cube-like manner, the game indicia being perpendicular to each other or arranged so as to be visible through two perpendicular game sides. It is possible to position the indicia on such sides in two arrangements, as described and shown, and three dimensional word games can be played with either or both of these types of playing piece. The second problem is elegantly overcome because such playing pieces can be positioned so that none of the game indicia are visible. This renders the playing piece as a simple block which can be used to support other playing pieces above the playing surface.
Patent Application
20080064461
