The present disclosure is directed to building and/or construction games, including building games where play may be facilitated by indicia on building components, one or more dice, and/or one or more game boards.
Examples of building games are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,857,633; 6,761,354; 6,684,591; 6,086,067; 5,788,233; 5,749,579; 5,711,524; 5,685,545; 5,683,087; 5,560,611; 5,301,953; 5,281,185; 5,251,900; 4,950,912; 4,895,543; 4,790,759; 4,666,162; 4,484,748; 4,387,897; 4,133,538; 4,055,348; 3,899,169; 3,678,602; 3,657,838; 3,649,018; 3,427,028; 3,226,122; 2,506,184; 2,456,098; 2,175,939; 1,591,554; 1,472,536; and 1,143,636; U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2005/0049036 and 2004/0212149; European Patent Nos. 106770 and 92660; European Patent Application No. 92660; PCT Application Nos. 9967764 and 05023385; and United Kingdom Patent Application Nos. 2402348; 2307867; 2255510; 2231499; 1560989; 1471139; and 0436959, the complete disclosures of those patents and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
Some embodiments provide a method of playing a game. The game including a plurality of building pieces and a plurality of playing pieces. The method comprising selecting a playing piece having a first indicium from the plurality of playing pieces; selecting a building piece having a second indicium from the plurality of building pieces; comparing the second indicium with the first indicium; and engaging the building piece with one or more of the other building pieces to form one or more buildings when the second indicium on the building piece corresponds with the first indicium on the playing piece.
Some embodiments provide a method of playing a game. The game including a plurality of building pieces and a plurality of base assemblies. The method comprising selecting a base assembly having a first indicium from the plurality of base assemblies; selecting a building piece having a second indicium from the plurality of building pieces; comparing the second indicium with the first indicium; and engaging the building piece with at least one of the base assembly and one or more of the other building pieces to form one or more buildings when the second indicium on the building piece corresponds with the first indicium on the base assembly.
Some embodiments provide a method of playing a game. The game including a plurality of building pieces, a plurality of playing pieces, a plurality of base assemblies, at least one die, and a game board having a plurality of playing piece receiving spaces, at least some of the playing piece receiving spaces include at least one building piece indicium that corresponds to the building pieces. The method comprising selecting a playing piece having a first indicium from the plurality of playing pieces; selecting a base assembly having a second indicium from the plurality of base assemblies, the second indicium corresponding with the first indicium; rolling the at least one die; moving the playing piece to a first playing piece receiving space having at least one building piece indicium based, at least in part, on the rolled die; selecting a building piece that corresponds to the at least one building piece indicium on the first playing piece receiving space from the plurality of building pieces, the building piece having a third indicium; comparing the third indicium with at least one of the first and second indicia; and engaging the building piece with at least one of the base assembly and one or more other building pieces to form one or more buildings when the third indicium on the building piece corresponds with at least one of the first and second indicia.
Some embodiments provide a game. The game comprising a plurality of building pieces, at least some of the building pieces are configured to engage one or more other building pieces when manually assembled to form one or more buildings, a first set of the building pieces each include a first indicium and a second set of the building pieces each include a second indicium; and a plurality of base assemblies configured to engage one or more of the building pieces and to provide foundations for the one or more buildings, the base assemblies include at least one of the first and second indicia.
Referring to
Building pieces 22 also may be configured to engage and/or interlock one or more other building pieces, such as when manually assembled, to form one or more buildings 26. For example, the building pieces may include one or more interlocking structures 28 configured to allow two or more building pieces to be interconnected, as shown in FIGS. 1-2. The interlocking structures may include one or more receiving portions 30 (such as cutouts and/or notches) configured to receive one or more portions of other building pieces and/or the base assemblies. Although interlocking structures 28 are shown to include cutouts or notches, those structures may include any suitable structure configured to allow the player to interconnect two or more building pieces, and/or one or more building pieces with one or more base assemblies.
Additionally, building pieces 22 may include one or more building piece indicia 32. The building piece indicia may include any suitable type of indicia configured to correspond to and/or at least substantially match indicia on base assemblies 24, and/or to convey any suitable information to the players. The building piece indicia may be in any suitable form, such as numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. For example, building piece indicia 32 may include graphic images and/or object representations, which may correspond to the graphic images and/or object representations on the base assemblies. “Correspond,” “corresponds,” and “corresponding,” as used herein, means that there are one or more characteristics in common between the indicia. Although building piece indicia 32 are shown to be in the form of graphic images and/or object representations, the indicia may be in any suitable form(s), including numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination.
Additionally, the building piece indicia may be on any suitable side(s) of the building pieces. For example, the building piece indicia may be only on one side, as shown in
Moreover, building pieces 22 may be any suitable number configured to construct any suitable number of buildings, such as sixteen pieces to build two buildings. Furthermore, the building pieces may have any suitable shape and/or ornamentation suitable for the game. For example, the castle pieces may have suitable shapes and/or ornamentation to represent components of a castle, such as walls, towers, beams, and/or flags. Furthermore, building pieces 22 may have gripping features (not shown) to improve contact with a player's fingers. Those gripping features may include grooves, ridges, undulations, and/or rough portions, among others, or any suitable combination to promote handling.
Base assemblies 24 may include any suitable structure configured to engage one or more of the building pieces, to provide a starting foundation for buildings 26, and/or to provide the players guidance on what building pieces must be used to construct the buildings. For example, the base assemblies may include one or more base elements 34 and one or more reference boards 36, as shown in
Base elements 34 may include any suitable structure configured to provide a starting foundation for the building pieces. For example, the base elements may be in the form of building bases 40, as shown in
The interlocking structures may include any suitable structure configured to allow the bases to be interconnected and/or one or more bases and one or more building pieces to be interconnected. For example, the interlocking structures may include one or more receiving portions 46 (such as cutouts and/or notches) configured to receive one or more portions of other base(s) and/or building piece(s), as shown in
Support structures 44 may include any suitable structure configured to allow the bases to stand upright on one or more of their sides. For example, the support structures may include one or more stands 48. Although support structures 44 are shown to include stands 48, the support structures may include any suitable structure configured to allow the bases to stand upright on one or more of their sides. Additionally, although only three bases are shown, the base assembly may include more or less bases.
Reference boards 36 may include any suitable structure configured to provide the players guidance on what building pieces are needed to complete the buildings. The reference boards may include one or more reference indicia 38, which may correspond to and/or be at least substantially similar to the building piece indicia. The reference indicia may be in any suitable form, such as numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. For example, reference indicia 38 may include graphic images and/or object representations, which may correspond to the graphic images and/or object representations on the building pieces. For example, the reference board shown in
Additionally, the reference boards may include one or more apertures 50 configured to receive one or more stands 48. Moreover, reference boards 36 may include any suitable ornamentation to represent the starting foundation of the intended structure. For example, the reference board may include a bridge and/or a surrounding moat. The building bases may then be placed on the reference boards (with the stands positioned within the apertures), and the appropriate building pieces may be placed on the bases and/or each other during the game, as shown in
Game 20 also may include a plurality of playing pieces 52, which may include any suitable structure configured to be associated with players of the game. For example, playing pieces may include character movers 54, as shown in
The playing pieces also may be any suitable size and/or shape configured to allow players of the game to grasp the playing piece. Additionally, playing pieces 52 may be any suitable number, such as the number of maximum players intended for the game. Moreover, the playing pieces may have gripping features (not shown) to improve contact with a player's fingers. Those gripping features may include grooves, ridges, undulations, and/or rough portions, among others, or any suitable combination to promote handling. Although playing pieces 52 are shown to include character movers 54, those pieces may include any suitable structure configured to represent suitable objects, devices, persons, structures, etc.
The playing pieces may include one or more character indicia 56. The character indicia may include any suitable type of indicia configured to designate particular building pieces that may belong to and/or may be associated with the player's piece, and/or convey any suitable information to the players. Character indicia 56 may be in any suitable form, such as numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. The character indicia may be in the form of graphic images and/or object representations, such as hats, eyeglasses, swords, shields, armor, belts, shoes, etc. For example, the helmet and sword shown on the knight character mover shown in
Although specific images are shown, the graphic images and/or object representations may include images of any suitable objects, persons, things, devices, structures, etc. Additionally, although character indicia 56 are shown to be in the form of graphic images and/or object representations, the indicia may be in any suitable form(s), including numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination.
Moreover, the game may include at least one game board 58, which may include any suitable structure configured to receive at least some of the playing pieces and/or to guide players on which of the building pieces to use in forming the one or more buildings. The game board may include a plurality of playing piece receiving spaces 60, which may include any suitable spaces configured to receive at least some of playing pieces. The playing piece receiving spaces also may be distributed along the game board in any suitable fashion. For example, the playing piece receiving spaces may be distributed across at least a substantial portion of the playing area in circular fashion. Additionally, any suitable number of playing piece receiving spaces may be provided on the game board, which may be based, at least in part, on the number of building pieces and/or the number of players.
Moreover, the playing piece receiving spaces may include one or more board indicia 62 configured to guide players on the building pieces to be used. The board indicia may be in any suitable form, such as numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. For example, board indicia 62 may include graphic images and/or object representations of one or more of the building pieces. Additionally, or alternatively, the board indicia may include graphic images of one or more of the playing pieces to indicate a starting and/or ending space. Although a game board is discussed, any suitable structure configured to receive at least some of the playing pieces, such as mats, restaurant menus, sculptures of suitable items, etc., may alternatively, or additionally, be used. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more surfaces, such as a desk(s) or a floor(s), may be used.
Furthermore, game 20 may include at least one die 64. The die may be any suitable shape. For example, die 64 is shown to have a cubical shape. Additionally, die 64 may include a plurality of sides 66. Although die 64 is shown to be cubical with six sides, the die may be any suitable shape with any suitable number of sides.
The sides may include die indicia 68 configured to guide players on moving the playing pieces on the game board. The die indicia may be in any suitable form, such as numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. For example, die indicia 68 may include one or more numeric indicia 70 and one or more iconic indicia 72 (such as foiler indicia), as shown in
Although game 20 is shown to include the building pieces, the base assembly, the playing pieces, the game board, and the die, the game may include any suitable structure configured to provide a building game facilitated by one or more indicia, one or more game boards, and/or one or more die.
A method 100 of playing some embodiments of the game is shown in
If the foiler icon is not rolled, then the player may move the playing piece based, at least in part, on the rolled die (such as the number of spaces indicated on the rolled die) at 108. The player may then view the playing piece receiving space occupied by the moved playing piece for indicia representing one or more building piece shapes indicated at 110. That player may then select a building piece from the plurality of building pieces that corresponds to the building piece shape indicia on the space occupied by the playing piece at 112. The player may turn the selected building piece face up at 114. The player may then compare the turned over building piece and his or her playing piece (and/or his or her reference board) to determine if the building piece has one or more indicia that correspond with one or more indicia on the playing piece (and/or one or more indicia on his or her reference board) at 116.
If the building piece has corresponding indicia, then the player may engage the building piece with one or more of the other building pieces and/or the base assembly to form the one or more buildings at 118, and his or her turn may end at 120. However, if the one or more indicia on the building piece fail to correspond with the one or more indicia on the player's playing piece (and/or his or her reference board), then the player may turn the building piece face down and return the building piece to the plurality of building pieces at 122, and his or her turn may end at 120.
If the foiler icon is rolled, then a foiler playing piece may be moved any suitable number of spaces (such as one space) at 124. The player may then view the playing piece receiving space occupied by the moved foiler playing piece to determine if any of the other playing pieces occupy the same space at 126. If the space that includes the foiler playing piece is not occupied by any of the other playing pieces, then the player's turn may end at 120. However, if the space that includes the foiler playing piece is occupied by any of the other playing pieces (and/or if the foiler playing piece and one or more playing pieces occupy the same playing piece receiving space), then the at least one die may be rolled at 128. The player may then check whether the rolled die shows a foiler icon at 130.
If the foiler icon is not rolled, then the player's turn may end at 120. However, if the foiler icon is rolled, then the player may remove a building piece from each of the buildings associated with the playing pieces that occupy the same space as the foiler playing piece at 132 and the player's turn may end at 120.
Players may take turns going through the method and the goal is to play until any suitable stopping point. For example, the game may be played until a building has been completed. Alternatively, or additionally, the game may be played until a player has reached a certain number of points based on any suitable scoring system (with certain points associated with certain building pieces). Moreover, the game may be played until a player has moved the playing piece to a particular playing piece receiving space of the game board. Although particular stopping points have been discussed, the method includes all suitable stopping points for the game, which may include all, some, or none of the stopping points discussed above.
Additionally, the method may include any suitable preparation steps before beginning the game. For example, the building pieces may be placed with their indicia face down and/or shuffled. Moreover, an order of play may be determined before the game. The order of play may be based on any suitable order, such as by descending or ascending age of the players. Furthermore, the players may select their playing pieces from the plurality of playing pieces and/or their base assemblies from the plurality of base assemblies before beginning the game
Furthermore, the method may be modified in any suitable way to vary the game. Such variation may increase, maintain, or decrease the game's challenge. For example, the players may agree to a specific order of building pieces and/or object representations that must be followed during the game. For example, the building piece(s) with the walls may be required to be placed first and the building piece with the flag may be required to be placed last on the building. Additionally, the players may agree that if an out of sequence building piece is turned over, then the player may not use that building piece and must turn it back down. For example, if the building piece turned over has a flag, then the player may not use that piece unless he or she has used all the other required building pieces.
Moreover, when the foiler playing piece lands on a playing piece receiving space occupied by other playing piece(s), then building pieces may be removed without rolling the die. Furthermore, more than one foiler playing piece and/or more than two non-foiler playing pieces may be used. However, the steps discussed above may be performed in different sequences and in different combinations, not all steps being required for all embodiments of the game.
An alternative method 200 of playing some embodiments of the game is shown in
If the building piece does have matching indicia, then the player adds the building piece to the building at 208 and his or her turn ends at 210. However, if that building piece does not have matching indicia, then the player turns the building piece face down at 212 and his or her turn ends at 210. The steps discussed above may be performed in different sequences and in different combinations, not all steps being required for all embodiments of the game.
The game also may include a set of instructions or rules and/or an inventory of contents. An example of instructions, rules, and inventory that might be used for the game is provided below. Although a specific example is provided, the game may include a set of any suitable instructions, rules and/or inventory, including any suitable combination of the instructions, rules, and inventory already discussed above.
General Description:
A Princess and a Knight are racing to build their castle. For who ever finishes building their castle first will become ruler of the land! But watch out, the mischievous Ogre who lives in the surrounding forest is trying to spoil their plans by making it difficult for the princess and knight to finish their task. Who will be victorious!
A game for 2 players or 2 teams!
Creative Construction
Shape Association
Contents:
To win the game be the first player to construct a castle by collecting the 5 castle pieces that belong to their character.
Set Up:
Be the first player to collect 5 castle pieces belonging to their character and build their castle to win.
The disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where any claim recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claim should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through presentation of new claims in a related application. Such new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,242 entitled “Building Games,” filed Jun. 3, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,995 entitled “Building Games,” filed Jun. 6, 2005. The complete disclosures of both patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60687242 | Jun 2005 | US | |
60687995 | Jun 2005 | US |