Patent Application
20170001103
This disclosure pertains to gaming apparatus and methods. More particularly, this disclosure relates to gaming apparatus and methods for searching and finding holiday thematic objects.
Techniques are known for implementing games of risk, chance and skill. For the case of games that involve finding a hidden object, it is known to have an object hidden within a printed image and a player is tasked with finding the object. There exists a need to further improve the manner in which such games are played and to provide for more challenging constraints on each player. Other games could further benefit from a solution to this need.
A search and find holiday gaming apparatus and method are provided that includes cards in multiple categories that provide a player with an indication of at least one of the thematic objects. A timer provides a further constraint to game play by placing constraints on a next event by a player. The player is tasked with finding the object under the constraint of a time period determined by the timing device. A random chance device is provided for randomly selecting occurrence of a category of a next event.
According to one aspect, a holiday search and find game is provided having a plurality of diversified, tangible and movable holiday thematic objects, a plurality of cards, a random chance device, and a timing device. The plurality of diversified, tangible and movable holiday thematic objects are arranged for disbursement about a playing environment. The plurality of cards each have an indication of at least one of the thematic objects. The random chance device is provided for randomly selecting occurrence of a category of a next event comprising: a) selection of a card from at least one category of cards, and b) at least one of: 1) a number of players, and 2) an identity of one or more players participating in the next event. The timing device establishes a predetermined time period in which to locate and identify one of the thematic objects as indicated on a selected one of the plurality of cards.
According to another aspect, a holiday gaming apparatus is provided for a plurality of players having a plurality of physically distinct holiday thematic objects, a plurality of uniquely different groups of playing cards, a random chance device, and a timing device. The plurality of physically distinct holiday thematic objects are arranged for disbursement about a playing environment. The plurality of uniquely different groups of playing cards is provided such that each card has an indication of at least one of the thematic objects. The random chance device is provided for randomizing occurrence of an event comprising at least one of: a) selection of a card from one of the plurality of uniquely different groups of cards; and b) designation of a number of players participating in the event. The timing device establishes a predetermined time period in which to locate and identify one of the thematic objects as indicated on a selected one of the plurality of cards.
According to yet another aspect, a method is provided for identifying a holiday thematic object arranged on a playing environment. The method includes: providing a plurality of diversified, tangible and movable holiday thematic objects disbursed about a playing environment; determining a player from a plurality of players for a next event; determining a time allotment for finding a next thematic object; receiving a clue to identify a specific one of the thematic objects; and locating the thematic object on the playing environment. The method can also include determining a number of players for a next event.
According to
Optionally, a plurality of sand timers can be used in place of timing devices 36, 38 and 40. More particularly, a sand timer would provide a relatively low cost solution for small scale manufacturing, as they are fungible products that can be readily available. The present search and find game requires multiple time increments. For example, there is 30 seconds of time allowed for a blizzard. There is also a “Fast” time and the “Slow” time allotments, which are determined by the players prior to starting a game. These time allotments may range from 5-30 seconds. It would be ideal to have a sand timer that could measure time intervals of 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds and 30 seconds. Lines could be placed on the glass or plastic body of a 30 second sand timer at the level the sand reaches after it has been running for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, and 20 seconds. If the timer runs all the way out then it would be 30 seconds. This implementation would require a player who is not participating in the event to watch the timer and judge when it has reached the level and when time is up. There would be lines placed on both sides of the sand timer so that it can be viewed in both directions. The time is judged on the upper part of the timer when the level of sand has dropped to the appropriate mark. The marking could be a line or there could be a shaded area for each time increment.
As shown in
In one form, random chance device 24 of
As shown in
Each unique ornament has three Holiday Rush cards, a zoom card, a phrase card, and a picture card that provide indicators of the identity of a corresponding ornament that is to be found during a timed event. As shown in
For the case of a PICTURE card 48, the indication on at least one of the plurality of cards includes at least one of an image, a photograph, a caricature, and a pictorial representation. For the case of a ZOOM card 44, the indication on at least one of the plurality of cards includes one of a subset of an image, a cropped image, and a subset of the full image. For the case of a ZOOM card 44, a PHRASE card 46, and a PICTURE card 48, the indications of at least one of the thematic objects comprises information used to identify at least one of the thematic objects comprising at least one of: a riddle, a clue, a name, a description, a word scramble, a photograph, and a zoomed-in photograph (or image).
According to one implementation, the holiday search and find game of
Purpose of the Game:
Holiday Rush is a search and find game where your Christmas Tree is the game board and ornaments are the game pieces. Find the ornament you are searching for to be the first to collect enough points to win the game.
Included with the Game:
25 ornaments
Holiday Rush Spinner
Holiday Rush Timer
Rules and Instructions
3 Holiday Rush Cards per Ornament: 1 Picture Card, 1 Zoom Card, 1 Phrase Card
Picture Card (Blue back): Has a full picture of the specific ornament to find.
Zoom Card (Red back): Has a zoomed-in picture of the specific ornament.
Phrase Card (Green back): Has a riddle, description, or word scramble that describes an ornament. These cards may apply to more than one ornament.
20 Stocking Stuffer Cards (Yellow Back):
Four each of the following cards:
Lump of Coal Blizzard Gift Card Extra Time Bah! Humbug!
Prepare to Play:
As a part of your family tradition, decorate your Christmas tree with your ornaments and with Holiday Rush ornaments. Near the tree arrange the players in a circle around the Holiday Rush Spinner and Game Cards. You will need room around the tree for players to search for ornaments on their turn.
Prior to starting the game, determine what the winning point total will be and how many seconds will be given to search during the “Fast” time and the “Slow” time. Suggested point totals are 50 points for a shorter game and 100 points for a longer game. Suggested times for the first few games are 10 seconds for “Fast” and 20 seconds for “Slow”. The times can be shortened as players become more familiar with the ornaments and cards. Advanced players will enjoy 5 second “Fast” and 10 second “Slow” times. Longer times can be used for younger children. Inexperienced players can be given a head start on Holiday Rush Plays.
Play can start with the youngest player or can be determined by spinning the spinner. Play then proceeds in a clockwise direction.
Taking a Turn:
The player starts by spinning the spinner.
Individual Play—If the spinner lands on one of the six individual play spaces, then the space will indicate which deck to draw a card from as well as how much time (“Fast” or “Slow”) the player will have to find the ornament. Time starts when the player draws the Holiday Rush Card. The player can then attempt to find the ornament indicated by the card before time runs out. If the player finds the ornament they must point at it and say “Rush!”. If the ornament was found before time runs out, then the player is awarded 5 points for ornaments found using the “Slow” time and 10 points for the “Fast” time. Place the used cards in a discard pile next to the deck from which the card was drawn.
Holiday Rush Play—A Holiday Rush Play takes place when the spinner lands on one of the six Holiday Rush spaces. In a Holiday Rush Play, two players are competing to be the first to find an ornament before time runs out. The play will include the spinning player and the extra player indicated on the spinner by the “R”, “L”, or “A” spaces.
“R” space—player to the spinning player's right “R” participates in the play
“L” space—player to the spinning player's left “L” participates
“A” space—player across the circle from the spinning player participates
The spinning player, prior to drawing a card, chooses whether the turn will be done in the “Slow” or “Fast” time. The “Slow” time is worth 5 points and the “Fast” time is worth 10 points. The spinning player will draw a Picture Card while the extra player will draw a Zoom Card. The turn and time start when the spinning player draws their Picture Card. The extra player may not draw their Zoom Card before the spinning player draws. When cards are drawn, the first player to find their ornament within the chosen time, and say “Rush!”, is awarded the points. If there is a tie, then a “Rush Off” will be held with each player drawing a phrase card. The first player to find their ornament, before time runs out, wins the points.
Stocking Stuffer—If the spinner lands on Stocking Stuffer, then the player draws one Stocking Stuffer Card. The following are the actions for each Stocking Stuffer Card.
Lump of Coal—Lose your turn.
Blizzard—30 seconds is allowed for all players to move 2 ornaments to a different part of the tree. The spinning player spins again after the Blizzard is over.
If you do not want ornaments being moved during game play, then remove the Blizzard Cards from the Stocking Stuffer deck prior to playing Holiday Rush.
Gift Card—The player is awarded a free 10 points. The spinning player does not spin again after drawing a Gift Card.
Extra Time—The player can save the card to use on a future turn to double the amount of time they have to search on an Individual Play or to receive a head start equal to the chosen search time on a Holiday Rush Play. The player must announce the use of Extra Time after spinning and prior to drawing a card. Extra time can only be used on the player's own turn not when they are an extra player in a Holiday Rush Play. The spinning player spins again after drawing an Extra Time card.
Bah! Humbug!—The player takes 10 points from the person in the lead. If no one has points yet, then no points are awarded. If there is a tie for the lead, then 5 points are taken from each leader. If 3 or more players are tied for the lead then the spinning player can pick two of those players from which to take 5 points. If the player that drew the card is in the lead or tied for the lead, then no points are awarded. The spinning player does not spin again after drawing a Bah! Humbug! card.
Winning the Game:
Play proceeds until someone reaches or exceeds the predetermined point total and wins the game. The final 5 or 10 points that would give a player the winning score cannot be won on an Individual Play. Points that will result in a winning score can only be won during a Holiday Rush Play or by drawing a Stocking Stuffer card that awards points. The spinning player loses their turn if the spinner lands on an Individual Play space, and the play would result in a winning score.
A “Final Rush Off” will be held in the rare event of two players being tied at a winning score by tying on a final Holiday Rush Play. The “Final Rush Off” will involve both players drawing one card each from the Picture, Zoom, and Phrase Card decks. After finding the Picture Card ornament, the player then draws a Zoom Card, and finally a Phrase Card. The first to find all three ornaments is the winner. There is no time limit in a “Final Rush Off.”
Additional Rules:
It is against the rules to study the tree between turns or after time has run out on a turn.
No pouting or fighting! You don't want to be put on the naughty list!
Variations of Play:
Small Children can play by taking turns selecting a picture and/or zoom card and searching for that ornament. If they find the ornament they keep the card. The first child to a predetermined total of 5 or 10 cards is the winner.
Team Play:
Large families or groups can pair up in teams. Team members will alternate taking turns searching for ornaments or being involved in Holiday Rush Play. Team members can work together to solve a phrase card, followed by one team member then searching for the ornament.
Time Limit: Instead of playing to a predetermined point total, the game can be played for a set amount of time. The winner is the player with the most points at the end of that time limit. If there is a tie then a Final Rush Off can be held.
Although
For the case of the application program implementation, the application would have a randomized generator that would randomly generate the different events on the spinner based on their frequency of occurrence determined by their area on the spinner. The digital spinner, or digital randomization device, would be activated by a swipe of the finger on the touch screen surface. The application would allow for input of the players and their order of play. The times for “Fast” and “Slow” could be entered into data fields and could be the same for each player or could be input with different times for each player depending on their age or familiarity with the holiday thematic objects. The predetermined “winning” point total would also be entered into a data field. When an event is generated by the spinner, the application would then display the appropriate card stack. A swipe of the touch screen surface would trigger a random generation of the card revealing the indication of the holiday thematic object. The appropriate timer would start when the card is revealed. The timer would be integrated into the application. If a stocking stuffer event was generated by the spinner, then the swipe of the touch screen would reveal which stocking stuffer card was randomly generated. After an event, there would be digital buttons (usually capacitive switches) that could be clicked to indicate which player successfully completed the event. This would then apply the appropriate points to that player's point total. The total scores could be constantly displayed in a strip at the top, bottom, or side of the screen. There would also be a game summary page where the player's scores and a detailed breakdown of the score for each event could be viewed.
In compliance with the statute, the subject matter disclosed herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise example embodiments. The claims are thus to be afforded full scope as literally worded, and to be appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
