TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to word games and, more particularly, to word ladder games and methods for playing such games.
BACKGROUND
Word related amusement games such as Scrabble®, Reverend Charles L. Dodgson's (“Lewis Carroll”) Doublets word game, or more modern word games such as Wordle offered for entertainment by The New York Times or those offered for entertainment by Guffbox Games (a game publisher based in the UK), are widely known and popular. To this end, such word related games are available for play in both paper form or electronically via a smartphone, tablet, or PC, for example.
Lewis Carroll's Doublets word game, published in 1879, and certain games offered for entertainment by Guffbox Games, such as “Word Ladder”, are word ladder-type games where the object of the game is to transform a first, 5-character word, for example, into a second, 5-character word through a sequence of intermediate 5-character words according to certain rules. For example, Lewis Carroll's Doublets word game is directed to solving individual word puzzles, otherwise referred to as Doublets, comprised of a pair of words having the same number of letters and generally being related in meaning in some way. A solution to each Doublet word puzzle is a sequence of words beginning and ending with the two puzzle words, with each word being composed of the same number of letters as the two puzzle words (i.e., the beginning and ending words). To this end, each word in the sequence is derived from the word preceding it by the substitution of one single letter. Many Doublets puzzles have more than one solution and, for a given puzzle, the solution containing the fewest steps is usually deemed to be the best. In a later version of the Doublets word game, Lewis Carroll introduced a second allowed word transformation as part of the game play, allowing players to permute the letters of a word in addition to the substitution of one single letter.
Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary prior art word puzzle 10 where the object of the game is to link a starting word of the puzzle to a target word of the puzzle. The illustrated word puzzle is exemplary of one of Lewis Carroll's classic Doublets word puzzles. In any event, the game play consists of transforming the starting word to the target word through a series of intermediate words that change one letter at a time. The transformation of each word (i.e., the starting word and each intermediate word) to achieve the target word may be considered one play, step, or move, for example. FIG. 1 illustrates a solution to the word puzzle that was achieved in four plays. In this regard, the first play is the single letter transformation of TEA to SEA. The second and third plays are each single letter transformations, being SEA to SET and SET to SOT. The fourth play is the single letter transformation of SOT to HOT to achieve the target word, being HOT.
One limitation of conventional word ladder puzzles, such as the word puzzle 10 described above with respect to FIG. 1, is that the game play consists of only a few hundred pairs of related words, usually short (3-5 letters long). Another limitation is that the number of plays required to solve the puzzle are usually fixed or predetermined and the word-to-word transformations are limited to only one or two transformation modes, such as a one or a two-letter transformation per play, for example. These limitations can result in a player becoming disinterested with the game after only a short period of time. For example, the player may solve only one or two word puzzles before the game play becomes seemingly repetitive.
Therefore, there is a need for a word ladder game with a more sophisticated game play.
SUMMARY
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided of playing a game that includes selecting a word puzzle having a start word and a final goal word and solving the word puzzle through making one or more plays. Solving the word puzzle includes making a first play which includes transforming the start word to a first intermediate word or the final goal word. If the final goal word is not achieved through the first play, solving the word puzzle further includes making a second play by transforming the first intermediate word to a second intermediate word or the final goal word. If the final goal word is not achieved through the second play, solving the word puzzle includes transforming the second intermediate word to one or more subsequent intermediate words through one or more subsequent plays to reach the final goal word. The game ends once the final goal word is achieved or one of the following events occurs: a predetermined time period expires before the final goal word is achieved; the number of plays exceeds a predetermined number of plays; the start word or an intermediate word is repeated; an intermediate word breaks a restriction on a number of letters allowed for the intermediate word; an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game based on the shape which the letters of the word must fill; an intermediate word that must be achieved before the final goal word is not achieved; an intermediate word that must not be achieved before the final goal word is achieved; a letter that must be played before the final goal word is achieved is not played; or a letter that must not be played before the final goal word is achieved is played. The game may be configured such that, for each puzzle, occurrence of any of the events described above can end the game. Or, the game may be configured such that one or more of the events described above can end game play. Alternatively, the game may not allow a play such as described above, thereby allowing game play to continue without penalizing the player. These configurations may contain more than one word or letter requirement. To this end, game play may vary depending on how the rules of the game are programmed. For example, the game play may include a number of levels with each level having a different set of rules that may apply to end the game. To solve the word puzzle, each play is defined as an incremental transformation of a word, the word being either the start word or the one or more intermediate words. In that regard, each incremental transformation of the word is selected from one of the following transformation modes, with each transformation mode being enabled as a choice for each incremental transformation of the word: adding at least one letter to the word; removing at least one letter from the word; changing at least one letter of the word; adding a prefix to the word; removing a prefix from the word; changing a prefix of the word; adding a suffix to the word; removing a suffix to the word; changing a suffix of the word; combining another word with the word to form a compound word; splitting the word into two words and using one of the two words; pluralizing the word; singularizing the word; switching positions of neighboring letters of the word; adding double letters to the word; removing double letters to the word; changing double letters to the word; adding two or more letters to the word; removing two or more letters to the word; changing two or more letters to the word; rearranging letters of the word; reversing letters of the word; substituting the word with a homophone of the word; and replacing all letters between a first and a last letter of the word.
According to some embodiments of the game, the start word and the final goal word are related in one or more of the following ways: the start word and the final goal word are synonyms; the start word is the plural of the final goal word, and vice versa; the start word and the final goal word are part of an expression, defined by one or more of: an aphorism, a cliché, an epigram, an epitaph, an epithet, an idiom, a mantra, a maxim, a motto, a quip, or a witticism; the start word and the final goal word sound alike; the meaning of the final goal word is different compared to the meaning of the start word in that one means a physical transformation of the other, and vice versa; the meaning of the final goal word is related to the meaning of the start word such that each is a species of a larger genus; and the final goal word is a compound word including the start word; the start word and the goal word are related to the other by age; the start word and the goal word are related to the other by size; the start word and the goal word are related to the other by location; the start word and the goal word are related to the other by object to its use, and vice versa; the start word and the goal word are related to the other by source to object, and vice versa; the start word is the something and the goal word is nothing, and vice versa; the start word and the goal word are related to the other by steps in a cycle; the start word and the goal word are related to the other by parts to a whole, and vice versa; the start word and the goal word are antonyms; the start word and the goal word are parts of a progression; the start word and the goal word are parts of a hybrid; the final goal words are parts of a recipe for food stuff; and the final goal words are parts of a process.
According to another embodiment of the game, the word puzzle includes multiple goal words. In that regard, solving the word puzzle further includes making a first play which includes transforming the start word to a first intermediate word or a first goal word. If the first goal word is not achieved through the first play, solving the word puzzle includes making a second play by transforming the first intermediate word to a second intermediate word or the first goal word. If the first goal word is not achieved through the second play, solving the word puzzle includes transforming the second intermediate word to one or more subsequent intermediate words through one or more subsequent plays to reach the first goal word and transforming the first goal word to the final goal word through one or more plays. The game ends once the first goal word is achieved followed by the final goal word, or one of the following events occurs: a predetermined time period expires before the final goal word is achieved; the number of plays exceeds a predetermined number of plays; the start word, one of the goal words, or an intermediate word is repeated; an intermediate word breaks a restriction on a number of letters allowed for the intermediate word; an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game based on the shape which the letters of the word must fill; an intermediate word that must be achieved before the final goal word is not achieved; an intermediate word that must not be achieved before the final goal word is achieved; a letter that must be played before the final goal word is achieved is not played; or a letter that must not be played before the final goal word is achieved is played. The game may be configured such that, for each puzzle, occurrence of any of the events described above can end the game. Or, the game may be configured such that one or more of the events described above can end game play. Alternatively, the game may not allow a play such as described above, thereby allowing game play to continue without penalizing the player. These configurations may contain more than one word or letter requirement. To this end, game play may vary depending on how the rules of the game are programmed. For example, the game play may include a number of levels with each level having a different set of rules that may apply to end the game.
According to another embodiment of the game, the start word comprises a single letter and the final goal word comprises multiple letters. According to yet another embodiment of the game, the start word comprises multiple letters and the final goal word comprises a single letter. According to one embodiment of the game, each intermediate word, and the final goal word are vertically aligned on a playing board.
According to yet another embodiment of the game, the playing board comprises a background image that corresponds to at least one of the first start word, one of the intermediate goal words, the final goal word, or a hint to solving the word puzzle. The start word, each intermediate word, and the final goal word are aligned vertically on the background image. According to another embodiment of the game, the background image comprises a grid having rows and columns formed of repeating shapes with each repeating shape containing one letter of the start word, each intermediate word, and the final goal word. According to yet another embodiment of the game, the playing board comprises a background image and a grid having rows formed of repeating shapes. In that regard, each repeating shape contains one letter of the first start word, each intermediate word, and the final goal word. To this end, the repeating shapes of the grid correspond to at least one of the start word or the final goal word. According to another embodiment of the game, the playing board comprises a grid having rows and columns formed of repeating shapes. Each repeating shape contains one letter of the first start word. In particular, the letters that form the start word, each intermediate word, and the final goal word form a shape that corresponds to at least one of the start word, one of the intermediate goal words, the final goal word, or a letter shape. According to one embodiment of the game, the letters of each of the vertically aligned words are offset laterally by one or more shapes from each other within the grid such that an outline of the vertically aligned words forms the shape that corresponds to at least one of the start word or the final goal word.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided of playing a game that includes selecting a word puzzle having a start word and multiple goal words. The start word and the goal words are related in one or more of the following ways: the start word and at least one of the goal words are synonyms; the start word is the plural of at least one of the goal words, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are part of an expression, defined by one or more of: an aphorism, a cliché, an epigram, an epitaph, an epithet, an idiom, a mantra, a maxim, a motto, a quip, or a witticism; the start word and at least one of the goal words sound alike; the meaning of at least one of the goal words is different compared to the meaning of the start word in that one means a physical transformation of the other, and vice versa; the meaning of the start word and at least one of the goal words is related to one another such that each is a species of a larger genus; at least one of the goal words is a compound word including the start word; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by age; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by size; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by location; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by object to its use, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by source to object, and vice versa; the start word is the something and at least one of the goal words is nothing, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by steps in a cycle; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by parts to a whole, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are antonyms; the start word and at least one of the goal words are parts of a progression; the start word and at least one of the goal words are parts of a hybrid; the final goal words are parts of a recipe for food stuff; and the start word and at least one of the goal words are parts of a process. The word puzzle is solved by making one or more plays. In that regard, solving the word puzzle includes making a first play which includes transforming the start word to a first intermediate word or a first goal word. If the first goal word is not achieved through the first play, solving the word puzzle includes making a second play by transforming the first intermediate word to a second intermediate word or the first goal word. If the first goal word is not achieved through the second play, solving the word puzzle includes transforming the second intermediate word to one or more subsequent intermediate words through one or more subsequent plays to reach the first goal word and by transforming the first goal word to a final goal word through one or more plays. The game ends once the first goal word is achieved followed by the final goal word, or one of the following events occurs: a predetermined time period expires before the final goal word is achieved; the number of plays exceeds a predetermined number of plays; the start word, one of the goal words, or an intermediate word is repeated; an intermediate word breaks a restriction on a number of letters allowed for the intermediate word; an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game based on the shape which the letters of the word must fill; an intermediate word that must be achieved before the final goal word is not achieved; an intermediate word that must not be achieved before the final goal word is achieved; a letter that must be played before the final goal word is achieved is not played; or a letter that must not be played before the final goal word is achieved is played. The game may be configured such that, for each puzzle, occurrence of any of the events described above can end the game. Or, the game may be configured such that one or more of the events described above can end game play. Alternatively, the game may not allow a play such as described above, thereby allowing game play to continue without penalizing the player. These configurations may contain more than one word or letter requirement. To this end, game play may vary depending on how the rules of the game are programmed. For example, the game play may include a number of levels with each level having a different set of rules that may apply to end the game. Each play is defined as an incremental transformation of a word, the word being either the start word, the one or more intermediate words, the first goal word, or one or more intermediate goal words. Each incremental transformation is defined by adding or removing one or more letters from the word, or changing one or more letters of the word.
According to one embodiment of the game, each incremental transformation of the word is selected from any one of the following transformation modes: adding at least one letter to the word; removing at least one letter from the word; changing at least one letter of the word; adding a prefix to the word; removing a prefix from the word; changing a prefix of the word; adding a suffix to the word; removing a suffix to the word; changing a suffix of the word; combining another word with the word to form a compound word; splitting the word into two words and using one of the two words; pluralizing the word; singularizing the word; switching positions of neighboring letters of the word; adding double letters to the word; removing double letters to the word; changing double letters to the word; adding two or more letters to the word; removing two or more letters to the word; changing two or more letters to the word; rearranging letters of the word; reversing letters of the word; substituting the word with a homophone of the word; and replacing all letters between a first and a last letter of the word.
According to another embodiment of the game, the multiple goal words include at least the first goal word, a second goal word, and the final goal word. According to yet another embodiment of the game, the step of solving the word puzzle further includes making a predetermined number of total plays. In that regard, solving the word puzzle includes making the first play which includes transforming the start word to the first intermediate word, making one or more subsequent plays by transforming the first intermediate word to one or more subsequent intermediate words to reach the first goal word in a first predetermined number of plays, and transforming the first goal word to the final goal word through a second or more subsequent predetermined number of plays. The game ends once the first goal word and the final goal word are achieved in the total predetermined number of plays which is the sum of the first predetermined number of plays and the second or more subsequent predetermined number of plays, or the number of plays exceeds the first predetermined number of plays without achieving the first goal word or the second or more subsequent predetermined number of plays without achieving the final goal word.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided of playing a game that includes selecting a word puzzle having a first start word and multiple goal words and solving the word puzzle through making one or more plays. In that regard, solving the word puzzle includes making a first play which includes transforming the first start word to a first intermediate word or a first goal word. If the first goal word is not achieved through the first play, solving the word puzzle includes making a second play by transforming the first intermediate word to a second intermediate word or the first goal word. If the first goal word is not achieved through the second play, solving the word puzzle includes transforming the second intermediate word to one or more subsequent intermediate words through one or more subsequent plays to reach the first goal word and transforming the first goal word to a final goal word through one or more plays. The game ends once the first goal word is achieved followed by the final goal word, or one of the following events occurs: a predetermined time period expires before the final goal word is achieved; the number of plays exceeds a predetermined number of plays; the start word, one of the goal words, or an intermediate word is repeated; an intermediate word breaks a restriction on a number of letters allowed for the intermediate word; an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game based on the shape which the letters of the word must fill; an intermediate word that must be achieved before the final goal word is not achieved; an intermediate word that must not be achieved before the final goal word is achieved; a letter that must be played before the final goal word is achieved is not played; a letter that must not be played before the final goal word is achieved is played. The game may be configured such that, for each puzzle, occurrence of any of the events described above can end the game. Or, the game may be configured such that one or more of the events described above can end game play. Alternatively, the game may not allow a play such as described above, thereby allowing game play to continue without penalizing the player. These configurations may contain more than one word or letter requirement. To this end, game play may vary depending on how the rules of the game are programmed. For example, the game play may include a number of levels with each level having a different set of rules that may apply to end the game. Each play is defined as an incremental transformation of a word, the word being either the first start word, the one or more intermediate words, or the first goal word. Each incremental transformation is defined by the addition or removal of one or more letters from the word, or changing one or more letters of the word. To this end, the first start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word are vertically aligned on a playing board such that, as the first start word is transformed to the final goal word through plays to solve the word puzzle, letters forming the first start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word, form the shape of the word puzzle that corresponds to at least one of the first start word, the first goal word, one or more intermediate goal words, or the final goal word, a letter, symbol, or character shape, or a letter abbreviation of a word included in a title of the puzzle.
According to one embodiment of the game, each incremental transformation of the word is selected from any one of the following transformation modes: adding at least one letter to the word; removing at least one letter from the word; changing at least one letter of the word; adding a prefix to the word; removing a prefix from the word; changing a prefix of the word; adding a suffix to the word; removing a suffix to the word; changing a suffix of the word; combining another word with the word to form a compound word; splitting the word into two words and using one of the two words; pluralizing the word; singularizing the word; switching positions of neighboring letters of the word; adding double letters to the word; removing double letters to the word; changing double letters to the word; adding two or more letters to the word; removing two or more letters to the word; changing two or more letters to the word; rearranging letters of the word; reversing letters of the word; substituting the word with a homophone of the word; and replacing all letters between a first and a last letter of the word.
According to another embodiment of the game, two or more of the goal words are related in one or more of the following ways: the first start word and at least one of the goal words are synonyms; the first start word is the plural of at least one of the goal words, and vice versa; the first start word and at least one of the goal words are part of an expression, defined by one or more of: an aphorism, a cliché, an epigram, an epitaph, an epithet, an idiom, a mantra, a maxim, a motto, a quip, or a witticism; the first start word and the final goal word sound alike; the meaning of at least one of the goal words is different compared to the meaning of the first start word in that one means a physical transformation of the other, and vice versa; the meaning of the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to one another such that each is a species of a larger genus; at least one of the goal words is a compound word including the start word; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by age; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by size; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by location; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by object to its use, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by source to object, and vice versa; the start word is the something and at least one of the goal words is nothing, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by steps in a cycle; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by parts to a whole, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are antonyms; the start word and at least one of the goal words are parts of a progression; the start word and at least one of the goal words are parts of a hybrid; the final goal words are parts of a recipe for food stuff; and the start word and at least one of the goal words are parts of a process. According to yet another embodiment of the game, the first start word comprises a single letter and the final goal word comprises multiple letters.
According to one embodiment of the game, the playing board comprises a grid having rows and columns formed of repeating shapes. Each repeating shape contains one letter of the first start word, each intermediate word, and the final goal word. According to another embodiment of the game, a shape of the grid forms the shape that corresponds to at least one of the first start word, the first goal word, one or more intermediate goal words, the final goal word, the letter, symbol, or character shape, or the letter abbreviation of the word included in the title of the puzzle.
According to one embodiment of the game, the word puzzle includes a second start word and a first and a second goal word. In that regard, solving of the word puzzle includes making two first plays which include transforming the first start word to a first intermediate word or the first goal word and transforming the second start word to a first intermediate word or the second goal word. If the first goal word is not achieved through the first play, solving the word puzzle includes making a second play by transforming the first intermediate word to a second intermediate word or the first goal word. If the second goal word is not achieved through the first play, solving the word puzzle includes making a second play by transforming the first intermediate word to a second intermediate word or the second goal word. If the first or second goal words are not achieved through the second plays, solving the word puzzle includes transforming each of the second intermediate words to one or more subsequent intermediate words through one or more subsequent plays to reach the first or the second goal words and transforming the first goal word to a first final intermediate word through one or more plays and transforming the second goal word to a second final intermediate word through one or more plays. To this end, the first final intermediate word and the second final intermediate word together form the final goal word. The game ends once the first goal word and the second goal word are achieved, followed by the final goal word, or the first start word, the second start word, one of the first or the second goal words, or an intermediate word is repeated; an intermediate word breaks a restriction on a number of letters allowed for the intermediate word; an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game based on the shape which the letters of the word must fill; an intermediate word that must be achieved before the final goal word is not achieved; an intermediate word that must not be achieved before the final goal word is achieved; a letter that must be played before the final goal word is achieved is not played; or a letter that must not be played before the final goal word is achieved is played. The game may be configured such that, for each puzzle, occurrence of any of the events described above can end the game. Or, the game may be configured such that one or more of the events described above can end game play. Alternatively, the game may not allow a play such as described above, thereby allowing game play to continue without penalizing the player. These configurations may contain more than one word or letter requirement. To this end, game play may vary depending on how the rules of the game are programmed. For example, the game play may include a number of levels with each level having a different set of rules that may apply to end the game.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided of playing a game that includes selecting a word puzzle having a start word and multiple goal words. In that regard, each goal word defines an individual sub-puzzle with each of the start word and the goal words being related, or each of the goal words being related, or the start word and at least one of the goal words being related, in one or more of the following ways: the start word and at least one of the goal words are synonyms; the start word is the plural of at least one of the goal words, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are part of an expression, defined by one or more of: an aphorism, a cliché, an epigram, an epitaph, an epithet, an idiom, a mantra, a maxim, a motto, a quip, or a witticism; the start word and at least one of the goal words sound alike; the meaning of at least one of the goal words is different compared to the meaning of the start word in that one means a physical transformation of the other, and vice versa; the meaning of at least one of the goal words is related to the meaning of the start word such that each is a species of a larger genus; at least one of the goal words is a compound word including the start word; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by age; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by size; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by location; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by object to its use, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by source to object, and vice versa; the start word is the something and at least one of the goal words is nothing, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by steps in a cycle; the start word and at least one of the goal words are related to the other by parts to a whole, and vice versa; the start word and at least one of the goal words are antonyms; the start word and at least one of the goal words are parts of a progression; the start word and at least one of the goal words are parts of a hybrid; the final goal words are parts of a recipe for food stuff; and the start word and at least one of the goal words are parts of a process. Solving of the word puzzle includes making one or more plays, including making multiple first plays which include transforming the start word to multiple intermediate words or the multiple goal words, each intermediate word being part of each individual sub-puzzle. If any of the multiple goal words is not achieved through each first play, solving of the word puzzle includes making second plays by transforming each of the intermediate words of each individual sub-puzzle to a second intermediate word or the multiple goal words. If any of the multiple goal words is not achieved through the second play, solving of the word puzzle includes transforming each second intermediate word to one or more subsequent intermediate words through one or more subsequent plays to reach each of the multiple goal words of each individual sub-puzzle. The game ends once each of the multiple goal words is achieved or one of the following events occurs: a predetermined time period expires before each of the multiple goal words is achieved; the number of plays exceeds a predetermined number of plays; the start word or an intermediate word is repeated for each sub-puzzle; an intermediate word breaks a restriction on a number of letters allowed for the intermediate word; an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game based on the shape which the letters of the word must fill; an intermediate word that must be achieved before the final goal word is not achieved; an intermediate word that must not be achieved before the final goal word is achieved; a letter that must be played before the final goal word is achieved is not played; or a letter that must not be played before the final goal word is achieved is played. The game may be configured such that, for each puzzle, occurrence of any of the events described above can end the game. Or, the game may be configured such that one or more of the events described above can end game play. Alternatively, the game may not allow a play such as described above, thereby allowing game play to continue without penalizing the player. These configurations may contain more than one word or letter requirement. To this end, game play may vary depending on how the rules of the game are programmed. For example, the game play may include a number of levels with each level having a different set of rules that may apply to end the game. Each play is defined as an incremental transformation of a word, the word being either the start word or the one or more intermediate words for each sub-puzzle. Each incremental transformation is defined by adding or removing one or more letters from the word, or changing one or more letters of the word. To this end, the start word, each intermediate word of each sub-puzzle, and each of the multiple goal words of each sub-puzzle are vertically aligned on a playing board with each sub-puzzle being separated by one or more grid lines.
According to one embodiment of the game, each incremental transformation of the word is selected from any one of the following ways: adding at least one letter to the word; removing at least one letter from the word; changing at least one letter of the word; adding a prefix to the word; removing a prefix from the word; changing a prefix of the word; adding a suffix to the word; removing a suffix to the word; changing a suffix of the word; combining another word with the word to form a compound word; splitting the word into two words and using one of the two words; pluralizing the word; singularizing the word; switching positions of neighboring letters of the word; adding double letters to the word; removing double letters to the word; changing double letters to the word; adding two or more letters to the word; removing two or more letters to the word; changing two or more letters to the word; rearranging letters of the word; reversing letters of the word; substituting the word with a homophone of the word; and replacing all letters between a first and a last letter of the word.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary prior art word puzzle game.
FIG. 2A is a schematic representation of an unsolved word puzzle in accordance with a first embodiment of the game of the present invention, illustrating the word puzzle displayed on a portable computing device.
FIG. 2B is a schematic representation one solution to the word puzzle of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2C is a schematic representation of a solution to another exemplary word puzzle according to the first embodiment of the game.
FIG. 2D is a schematic representation of a solution to another exemplary word puzzle according to the first embodiment of the game.
FIG. 2E is a schematic representation of a solution to another exemplary word puzzle according to the first embodiment of the game.
FIG. 2F is a schematic representation of another solution to the word puzzle of FIG. 2E.
FIG. 2G illustrates a version of game play in accordance with the first embodiment of the game where the puzzle includes a start word having multiple letters and a goal word that is just a single letter, thereby defining a “something to nothing” game play.
FIG. 2H illustrates another version of game play in accordance with the first embodiment of the game similar to FIG. 2G, with a start word having multiple letters and a goal word that is just a single letter.
FIG. 2I illustrates a puzzle in accordance with another version of game play in accordance with the first embodiment of the game where the puzzle includes a start word that is just a single letter and a goal word having multiple letters.
FIG. 3A is a schematic representation of an unsolved word puzzle in accordance with a second embodiment of the game of the present invention.
FIG. 3B is a schematic representation of the unsolved word puzzle of FIG. 3A, illustrating the word puzzle with a predetermined number of plays required to solve the word puzzle.
FIG. 3C is a schematic representation of one solution to the word puzzle of FIGS. 3A-3B.
FIG. 4A is a schematic representation of a solution to an exemplary word puzzle according to a third embodiment of the game.
FIG. 4B is a schematic representation of a solution to an exemplary word puzzle in accordance with a variation of the third embodiment of the game.
FIG. 5A is a schematic representation of a solution to an exemplary word puzzle according to a fourth embodiment of the game.
FIG. 5B is a schematic representation of a solution to an exemplary word puzzle in accordance with a variation of the fourth embodiment of the game.
FIG. 6A is a schematic representation of a solution to an exemplary word puzzle according to a fifth embodiment of the game.
FIG. 6B is a schematic representation of a solution to an exemplary word puzzle in accordance with a variation of the fifth embodiment of the game.
FIG. 6C is a schematic representation of a solution to an exemplary word puzzle in accordance with a variation of the fifth embodiment of the game.
FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a solution to an exemplary word puzzle according to a sixth embodiment of the game.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a word game and variations thereof, as well as methods of playing the word game and its variations. The word game of the present invention, and its variations, may be referred to as a word ladder or a word chain game, for example. In either case, the word games of the present invention are for being played among one or more participants or players. In this regard, each word ladder game (“game”) preferably includes a set of rules which are described herein with respect to various embodiments of the present invention. More particularly, each game includes at least one word puzzle to be solved, as described in further detail below. Embodiments of the present invention can be played on paper, in a workbook such as a puzzle book or on anything where text can be written, a board game, or as a digital version embodied in a game program, game application, app, etc. To this end, embodiments of the present invention are playable anywhere text and letters can be used in a way which promotes the game process.
FIGS. 2A-7 are directed to different embodiments of the word ladder game of the present invention. Each embodiment or variation thereof, otherwise referred to as a game mode, will be described in turn below. However, there are common goals, operations, and terms shared between the different game variations. In this regard, each game variation generally includes selecting a word puzzle having a start word and a final goal word. As described in further detail below, the start word and at least one goal word are typically related in some way. The word puzzle is then solved through making one or more plays to transform the start word into the final goal word. In this regard, each play is defined as an incremental transformation of either the start word, one or more intermediate words, and one or more non-final goal words. To this end, the word puzzle is considered solved once the final goal word is achieved via the one or more plays.
Turning now to FIGS. 2A-2B, a word puzzle 20 according to a first embodiment of the game of the present invention is shown as being playable via an exemplary computing device 22. According to embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the game may be in the form of an application downloadable to the computing device 22 (e.g., by visiting a web site or an “application store”). The game application may thereby work cooperatively with the computing device 22 and in response to user input via a display 24 of the computing device 22 to provide the various features, functions, applications, processes, or modules comprising embodiments of the present invention. The game application may also have program code that is executed by one or more external resources, or otherwise rely on functions or signals provided by other system or network components external to the computing device 22. Indeed, given the nearly endless hardware and software configurations possible, persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand that embodiments of the present invention may include applications that are located externally to the computing device 22, distributed among multiple computing devices or other external resources, or provided by computing resources (hardware and software) that are provided as a service over a network to which the computing device 22 is connected, such as a cloud computing service. To this end, the computing device 22 may be a portable computing device, such as a smart phone, smart watch, laptop, tablet computer, media player, or any other computing device that communicate with the database over the Internet. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to mobile computing devices. Indeed, a person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that alternative embodiments of the present invention may have the application implemented on any type of suitable computing device, such as a desktop computer, for example. Further, embodiments of the present invention can be played on paper such as a puzzle booklet, a board game, or anything where text can be written, for example.
Referring to FIGS. 2A-2B, to begin game play, a player first selects a word puzzle which may be selectable from a list of word puzzles in the game application, for example. In this regard, the game application may include hundreds of different word puzzles which may be displayed to the player for selection via the start word, or a goal word, or as a pair of words being the start word and the goal word. The start word and the goal word will be related in some way which adds a layer of entertainment to the game. More particularly, the start word and the goal word for each word puzzle are related in one or more of the following ways listed in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1
|
|
Relationship between the start word and
Example
|
the goal word
Start Word
Goal Word
|
|
(i) the start word and the goal word are
WORN
USED
|
synonyms
|
(ii) the start word is the plural of the goal word,
CATTLE
COW
|
and vice versa
|
(iii) the start word and the goal word are part of
STITCH
TIME
|
an expression, defined by one or more of: an
|
aphorism, a cliche, an epigram, an epitaph, an
|
epithet, an idiom, a mantra, a maxim, a motto,
|
a quip, or a witticism
|
(iv) the start word and the goal word sound
PAIL
PALE
|
alike
|
(v) the meaning of the goal word is different
WATER
ICE
|
compared to the meaning of the start word in
|
that one means a physical transformation of
|
the other, and vice versa
|
(vi) the meaning of the goal word is related to
HORSE
EQUUS
|
the meaning of the start word such that each is
|
a species of a larger genus
|
(vii) the final goal word is a compound word
BOOK
NOTEBOOK
|
(Closed, Open, Hyphenated, etc.) including the
POLE
FISHING
|
start word
POLE
|
WELL
WELL-
|
KNOWN
|
(viii) the start word and the goal word are
FAWN
DEER
|
related to the other by age
|
(ix) the start word and the goal word are
SAND
BEACH
|
related to the other by size
|
(x) the start word and the goal word are related
SAILOR
SHIP
|
to the other by location
|
(xi) the start word and the goal word are
SOAP
CLEAN
|
related to the other by object to its use, and
|
vice versa
|
(xii) the start word and the goal word are
MIND
THOUGHT
|
related to the other by source to object, and
|
vice versa
|
(xiii) the start word is the something and the
HATE
[nothing]
|
goal word is nothing, and vice versa
|
(xiv) the start word and the goal word are
SPRING
SUMMER
|
related to the other by steps in a cycle
|
(xv) the start word and the goal word are
GRAIN
BEER
|
related to the other by parts to a whole, and
|
vice versa
|
(xvi) the start word and the goal word are
BAD
GOOD
|
antonyms
|
(xvii) the start word and the goal word are parts
GOOD
BETTER
|
of a progression
|
(xviii) the start word and the goal word are
HORSE
EAGLE
|
parts of a hybrid (in this example, Pegasus)
|
(xix) the final goal words are parts of a recipe
A
WATER
|
for food stuff (in this example, beer)
MALT
|
HOPS
|
YEAST
|
(xx) the final goal words are parts of a process
A
DIRT
|
(in this example, growing grass)
SEED
|
WATER
|
SUN
|
|
As shown in FIG. 2A, once the word puzzle 20 has been selected, a playing board 26 and a title block 28 appear on the display 24 of the computing device 22. As shown, the title block 28 includes the puzzle title, which may be the start word and the goal word. In one embodiment, the title block 28 may include other text such as a puzzle hint or clue, for example. The playing board 26 is populated with letters of a start word, being NOW, and a goal word, being LATER, with the letters of the start word and the goal word being vertically aligned on the playing board 26. More particularly, the playing board 26 forms a grid comprising rows and columns of repeating shapes, such as squares, for example, with each shape containing one letter of the start word and the final goal word. To this end, the grid shapes having the letters of the start word and the goal word may be in the form of colored, bolded, or shaded shapes 30, as shown.
With continued reference to FIG. 2A, the playing board 26 may be populated with a number of empty or blank intermediate rows 32 arranged between the start word and the goal word. As shown, each empty or blank intermediate row 32 includes a row of repeating shapes having a length equal (e.g., a number of shapes in each row) that is equal to a length of the largest, in terms of the most characters or letters, of either the start word or the goal word. In the exemplary puzzle 20 shown, the grid is sized to the goal word which has more letters compared to the start word. However, a length of each blank intermediate row may vary with each word transformation, as described in further detail below. Further, in one embodiment, the number of empty intermediate rows 32 arranged between the start word and the goal word may be a fixed number to define a predetermined number of plays required to solve the word puzzle 20. For example, the playing board 26 may include three blank intermediate rows 32 arranged between the start word and the goal word, signaling to the player that four plays, or word transformations, are required to achieve the goal word. To this end, as there are often multiple solutions to each word puzzle, the puzzle 20 may be configured to include any number of possible predetermined plays to solve the puzzle. However, in the exemplary word puzzle 20 shown in FIG. 2A, the number of intermediate rows 32 is not fixed, and may vary depending on the number of plays taken by a player to solve the puzzle 20, as indicated by a break line 34 in the figure.
As briefly described above, the object of the game is to solve the word puzzle 20 by transforming the start word to the goal word through a number of plays or incremental transformations of the start word and, if needed, one or more subsequent intermediate words. In the first embodiment of the game, each play is defined as an incremental transformation of one word, the word being either the start word or the one or more intermediate words. More particularly, each incremental transformation of the word (i.e., start word and the one or more subsequent intermediate words) is accomplished using one of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 below. In the first embodiment of the game, one or more of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 below may be enabled as an option for each play or each incremental transformation of a word.
TABLE 2
|
|
Example
|
Transformation mode
Word
Modified Word
|
|
(i) adding at least one letter to the word
ATE
HATE
|
(ii) removing at least one letter from the word
RATE
ATE
|
(iii) changing at least one letter of the word
MATE
LATE
|
(iv) adding a prefix to the word
EXIST
COEXIST
|
(v) removing a prefix from the word
DEVALUE
VALUE
|
(vi) changing a prefix of the word
IMMORAL
AMORAL
|
(vii) adding a suffix to the word
ENDORSE
ENDORSEMENT
|
(viii) removing a suffix from the word
ENDORSEMENT
ENDORSE
|
(ix) changing a suffix of the word
PRIVACY
PRIVITY
|
(x) combining another word with the word
NOTE
NOTEBOOK
|
to form a compound word
|
(xi) splitting the word into two words and
NOTEBOOK
BOOK
|
using one of the two words
|
(xii) pluralizing the word
SWITCH
SWITCHES
|
(xiii) singularizing the word
SWITCHES
SWITCH
|
(xiv) switching positions of neighboring
RUN
URN
|
letters
|
(xv) adding double letters to the word
BEER
BETTER
|
(xvi) removing double letters to the word
LETTER
LEER
|
(xvii) changing double letters to the word
BUTTER
BUMMER
|
(xviii) adding two or more letters to the word
TIN
STEIN
|
(xix) removing two or more letters to the word
DRAGON
RAG
|
(xx) changing two or more letters to the word
CHAIR
CHALK
|
(xxi) rearranging letters of the word
NEAT
ANTE
|
(xxii) reversing letters of the word
BRAG
GARB
|
(xxiii) substituting the word with a
BALL
BAWL
|
homophone of the word
|
(xxiv) Replacing all letters between a first
CAVEAT
CARROT
|
and a last letter of the word
|
|
FIG. 2B illustrates one exemplary solution to the word puzzle 20 of FIG. 2A. As shown, the solution includes six individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in five different intermediate words. In this regard, the first play is the transformation of the start word, NOW, to a first intermediate word, HOW, by changing one letter of the start word. As the goal word was not achieved after the player's first play, the player must make a subsequent play. In this regard, the second play is the transformation of the first intermediate word, HOW, to a second intermediate word, HOT, by changing one letter of the first intermediate word. Again, as the goal word was not achieved after the player's second play, the player must make a subsequent play. This is continued until the goal word is achieved or a game-ending event occurs, as described in further detail below. The third play is the transformation of the second intermediate word, HOT, to a third intermediate word, HAT, by changing one letter of the second intermediate word. The fourth play is the transformation of the third intermediate word, HAT, to a fourth intermediate word, HATE, by adding one letter to the third intermediate word. The fifth play is the transformation of the fourth intermediate word, HATE, to a fifth intermediate word, LATE, by changing one letter of the fourth intermediate word. Finally, the sixth play is the transformation of the fifth intermediate word, LATE, to the goal word, LATER, by adding one letter to the fifth intermediate word. As shown, the letters of the start word, each intermediate word, and the goal word are vertically aligned on the playing board 26 with each letter of each word being arranged within a repeating shape of the grid that forms the playing board 26. While FIG. 2B illustrates one solution to the word puzzle 20, it is understood that there is more than one solution to the word puzzle 20 shown and that the illustrated solution may not be the “best” in the sense that the fewest plays were taken to transform the start word to the goal word.
In the first embodiment of the game, the game ends once the goal word is achieved (i.e., the word puzzle 20 is solved). However, the game may end in other ways, such as when the number of plays exceeds a predetermined number of plays. For example, if the predetermined number of plays required to solve a puzzle is six, and the player makes a seventh play without solving the puzzle, the game ends and the player loses. However, if the player achieves the goal word in six plays or less, the game ends and the player wins. The game may also be timed such that the goal word must be achieved within a predetermined time period. If the predetermined time period expires and the goal word has not been achieved, the game ends. For example, the predetermined time period may be 180 seconds (i.e., 3 minutes). The player must achieve the goal word within the 180 seconds. If the goal word is not achieved within the 180 second time period or limit, the game ends and the player loses. If the goal word is achieved within the 180 second time limit, the player wins. The game may also end if the start word or an intermediate word is repeated. For example and with reference to FIGS. 2A-2B, should the player transform the first intermediate word, HOW, back to the starting word, NOW, the game ends and the player loses. Similarly, should the player transform the second intermediate word, HOT, back to the first intermediate word, HOW, the game also ends and the player loses. The game may also end if an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must only use four-letter words and the player cannot transform the next intermediate word into a four-letter word, the player loses. If the player transforms the next intermediate word into a four-letter word, and continues to do so until the player transforms the last intermediate word into the goal word, the player wins. The game may also end if an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game based on the shape which the letters of the word must fill. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must only use intermediate words whose letters fill the spaces within a triangle shape and the player cannot transform the next intermediate word into an allowable word, the player loses. If the player transforms the next intermediate word into an allowable word, and continues to do so until the player transforms the last intermediate word into the goal word, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that a particular intermediate word MUST be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must use the intermediate word “FLAME” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does not, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must use the intermediate word “FLAME” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that a particular intermediate word MUST NOT be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must not use the intermediate word “GOAD” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must not use the intermediate word “GOAD” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does not, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that an intermediate word or goal word containing a particular letter MUST be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does not, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that an intermediate word or goal word containing a particular letter MUST NOT be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must not use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must not use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does not, the player wins. The game may be configured such that, for each puzzle, occurrence of any of the events described above can end the game. Or, the game may be configured such that one or more of the events described above can end game play. Alternatively, the game may not allow a play such as described above, thereby allowing game play to continue without penalizing the player. These configurations may contain more than one word or letter requirement. To this end, game play may vary depending on how the rules of the game are programmed. For example, the game play may include a number of levels with each level having a different set of rules that may apply to end the game.
Having described the goals and operations of the first embodiment of the game the present invention, reference is now made to FIGS. 2C-2I which illustrate specific embodiments of word puzzles associated with the goals and operations of the first embodiment of the game described above. In this regard, for each word puzzle, the playing board is shown separate from the computing device to simplify the illustration. However, it will be understood that each embodiment of the game described below can be played on a computing device as described above or alternatively on paper, a board game, or anything where text can be written, for example.
FIG. 2C illustrates another exemplary word puzzle 36 according to the first embodiment of the game, wherein like numerals represent like features of previously described embodiments. As shown, the word puzzle 36 includes a different start word, being BIRD, and a different goal word, being FLOCK, which are related in meaning in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. The figure illustrates one exemplary solution to the word puzzle 36 that includes six individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in five different intermediate words. In this regard, the puzzle 36 was solved as follows: first play, BIRD→BARD; second play, BARD→BARK; third play, BARK→BACK; fourth play, BACK→BOCK; fifth play, BOCK→LOCK; and the sixth and final play, LOCK→FLOCK. To this end, each word transformation was selected from one of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above.
FIG. 2D illustrates yet another exemplary word puzzle 38 according to the first embodiment of the game, wherein like numerals represent like features of previously described embodiments. As shown, the word puzzle 38 includes a different start word, being HUNGER, and a different goal word, being HOPE, which are related in meaning in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. The figure illustrates one exemplary solution to the word puzzle 38 that includes eleven individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in ten different intermediate words. In this regard, the puzzle 38 was solved as follows: first play, HUNGER→HANGER; second play, HANGER→RANGER; third play, RANGER→RANGE; fourth play, RANGE→RANG; fifth play, RANG→HANG; sixth play, HANG→PANG; seventh play, PANG→PANE, eighth play, PANE→PINE; ninth play, PINE→PIPE; tenth play, PIPE→POPE; and the eleventh and final play, POPE→HOPE. To this end, each word transformation was selected from one of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above.
FIGS. 2E-2F illustrate another exemplary word puzzle 40 according to the first embodiment of the game, wherein like numerals represent like features of previously described embodiments. As shown, the word puzzle 40 includes yet a different start word, being BAD, and a different goal word, being GOOD, which are related in meaning in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. As briefly described above, there are often multiple solutions to each word puzzle. In this regard, FIGS. 2E-2F illustrate two different solutions to the same word puzzle 40. FIG. 2E illustrates one exemplary solution to the word puzzle 40 that includes five individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in four different intermediate words. As shown, the puzzle 40 was solved as follows: first play, BAD→BAT; second play, BAT→BOAT; third play, BOAT→GOAT; fourth play, GOAT→GOAD; and the fifth and final play, GOAD→GOOD. Each word transformation was selected from one of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above. In comparison, FIG. 2F illustrates another exemplary solution to the word puzzle 40 that contains fewer plays. As shown, the solution includes only three individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in two different intermediate words. The puzzle 40 was solved as follows: first play, BAD→GAD; second play, GAD→GOAD; and the third and final play, GOAD→GOOD. Again, each word transformation was selected from one of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above. To this end, the solution to the word puzzle 40 illustrated in FIG. 2F may be deemed the better solution because fewer plays were needed to solve the puzzle.
FIGS. 2G-2H illustrate a version of game play in accordance with the first embodiment of the game where each puzzle includes a start word having multiple letters and a goal word that is just a single letter, such that the goal may be characterized as “nothing” since the single letter can be removed to reduce the next line to zero letters. In this regard, the goal word may be any single letter word, such as A or I, for example. Or, the puzzle may require that the goal word be a specific word, such as A, for example. These puzzles may be referred to as something-to-nothing word puzzles. In this regard, FIG. 2G illustrates an exemplary word puzzle 42 having a start word, being HATE, and a goal word that is any single letter word, which is referred to as “nothing”. The figure illustrates one exemplary solution to the word puzzle 42 that includes three individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in two different intermediate words. In this regard, the puzzle 42 was solved as follows: first play, HATE→ATE; second play, ATE→AT; and the third and final play, AT→A. To this end, the goal word is A. Each word transformation was selected from one of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above. FIG. 2H illustrates another exemplary something-to-nothing word puzzle 44 having a start word, being FEAR, and a goal word that is any single letter word, which is referred to as “nothing”. The figure illustrates one exemplary solution to the word puzzle 44 that includes four individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in three different intermediate words. In this regard, the puzzle 44 was solved as follows: first play, FEAR→EAR; second play, EAR→EAT; third play, EAT→AT; and the fourth and final play, AT→A. To this end, the goal word is A. Each word transformation was selected from one of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above.
FIG. 2I illustrates a word puzzle 46 in accordance with a version of game play where the word puzzle 46 includes a start word that is just a single letter and a goal word having multiple letters. In this regard, the start word may be any single letter word, such as A or I, for example. Or, the puzzle 46 may require the start word to be a specific word, such as A, for example. These puzzles may be referred to as nothing-to-something word puzzles. The exemplary word puzzle 46 includes a start word that is any single letter word, which is referred to as “nothing”, and a goal word, being LOVE. The figure illustrates one exemplary solution to the word puzzle 46 that includes seven individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in six different intermediate words. The player first selects the start word, which is A. The puzzle 46 was then solved as follows: first play, A→AT; second play, AT→ATE; third play, ATE→GATE; fourth play, GATE→GAVE; fifth play, GAVE→GIVE; sixth play, GIVE→LIVE; and the seventh and final play, LIVE→LOVE. Each word transformation was selected from one of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above.
FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a word puzzle 48 according to a second embodiment of the game of the present invention wherein like numerals represent like features of previously described embodiments. Like the first embodiment of the game described above with respect to FIGS. 2A-2I, it will be understood that the second embodiment of the game can also be played on a computing device or alternatively on paper, a board game, or anything where text can be written, for example. The primary difference between the second embodiment of the game and the first embodiment of the game is that word puzzles according to the second embodiment of the game include a start word and multiple goal words. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the word puzzle 48 includes the title block 28, and the playing board 26 populated with the letters of a start word, being MILD, a first goal word, being HOT, and a second goal word, being FIRE, which are each related in meaning in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. While the exemplary puzzle 48 illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C only includes a first goal word and a second goal word, it is understood that other puzzles may include more goal words, such as three or more goal words, for example. In either case, the start word and the goal words of each puzzle are related in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. However, it is possible that the start word and only one of the goal words, or two of the goal words, be related in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above.
The object of the second embodiment of the game is to solve the word puzzle 48 by transforming the start word to a first goal word through a number of plays or incremental transformations of the start word, and then to transform the first goal word to a second goal word through a number of plays or incremental transformations of the first goal word, and so forth, until all goal words are achieved. Like the first embodiment of the game, each play is defined as an incremental transformation of one word, the word being either the start word, one or more intermediate words, or one or more goal words. To this end, each incremental transformation of a word is accomplished using one of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above. To this end, each of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above is enabled as an option for each play or each incremental transformation of a word.
FIG. 3A illustrates the playing board 26 populated with the start word, the first goal word, and the second goal word, as it might appear on a display of a computing device after being selected by a player in a game application, for example. As shown, the playing board 26 is populated with letters of the start word and each goal word with the letters of the start word and each goal word being vertically aligned on the playing board 26. Specifically, the playing board 26 forms a grid comprising rows and columns of repeating shapes, such as squares, for example, with each shape containing one letter of the start word and the final goal word. The grid shapes having the letters of the start word and the goal word may be in the form of colored, bolded, or shaded shapes 30, as shown. The playing board 26 also includes a number of empty or blank intermediate rows 32 of shapes positioned between the start word and the first goal word, and a number of blank intermediate rows of shapes between the first goal word and the second goal word. The blank intermediate rows 32 are similar in function to the blank intermediate rows 32 described above with respect to the first embodiment of the game. In that regard, the number of intermediate rows 32 between the start word and the first goal word, as well as the first goal word and the second goal word, may vary depending on the number of plays taken by a player to solve the puzzle, as indicated by a first break line 50 and a second break line 52 in FIG. 3A. However, as shown in FIG. 3B, the number of empty intermediate rows 32 between the start word and the first goal word may be a fixed number, such as four, to define a predetermined number of plays required to achieve the first goal word. Similarly, the number of empty intermediate rows 32 between the first goal word and the second goal word may be a fixed number, such as three, to define a predetermined number of plays required to achieve the second goal word. To this end, the number of empty intermediate rows 32 between the start word and the first goal word may be the same or different compared to the number of empty intermediate rows 32 between the first goal word and the second goal word.
FIG. 3C illustrates one exemplary solution to the word puzzle 48 of FIG. 3A. As shown, the solution includes five individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in four different intermediate words to achieve the first goal word, and four individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in three different intermediate words to achieve the second goal word. In this regard, the puzzle 48 was solved as follows: first play, MILD→MILE; as the first goal word was not achieved after the player's first play, the player must make a subsequent second play, being MILE→MOLE; again, as the first goal word was not achieved after the player's second play, the player must make a subsequent, third play (this is continued until each first goal word is achieved or a game-ending event occurs, as described in further detail below), being MOLE→MOTE; fourth play, MOTE→MOT; fifth play, MOT→HOT, to achieve the first goal word, being HOT. Upon achieving the first goal word, the player continued to solve the puzzle 48 as follows: sixth play, HOT→HIT; seventh play, HIT→FIT; eighth play, FIT→FIR; and the ninth and final play, FIR→FIRE, being the second goal word. Once the first goal word is achieved, followed by the second goal word (i.e., the final goal word), the puzzle 48 is solved. As shown in FIG. 3C, the letters of the start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word are vertically aligned on the playing board 26 with each letter of each word being arranged within a repeating shape of the grid that forms the playing board 26. While FIG. 3C illustrates one solution to the word puzzle 48, it is understood that there is more than one solution to the word puzzle 48 shown and that the illustrated solution may not be the “best” in the sense that the fewest plays were taken to transform the start word to the first and second goal words.
In the second embodiment of the game, the game ends (i.e., the word puzzle 48 is solved) once the first goal word is achieved followed by each subsequent goal word. However, the game may end in the other ways described above with respect to the first embodiment of the game, such as when the number of plays exceeds a predetermined number of plays. The number of predetermined plays may be fixed for each goal word (e.g., FIG. 3B showing five plays to achieve the first goal word and only four plays to achieve the second (final) goal word) or there may be a fixed total number of plays which is the sum of the plays required to reach each goal word. The game may also end after a predetermined time period expires before the final goal word has been achieved. There may be a time period set for achieving each goal word, or just one time period for achieving the final goal word. The game may also end if the start word, an intermediate word, or a goal word is repeated. The game may also end if an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must only use four-letter words and the player cannot transform the next intermediate word into a four-letter word, the player loses. If the player transforms the next intermediate word into a four-letter word, and continues to do so until the player transforms the last intermediate word into the goal word, the player wins. The game may also end if an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game based on the shape which the letters of the word must fill. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must only use intermediate words whose letters fill the spaces within a triangle shape and the player cannot transform the next intermediate word into an allowable word, the player loses. If the player transforms the next intermediate word into an allowable word, and continues to do so until the player transforms the last intermediate word into the goal word, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that a particular intermediate word MUST be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must use the intermediate word “FLAME” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does not, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must use the intermediate word “FLAME” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that a particular intermediate word MUST NOT be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must not use the intermediate word “GOAD” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must not use the intermediate word “GOAD” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does not, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that an intermediate word or goal word containing a particular letter MUST be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does not, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that an intermediate word or goal word containing a particular letter MUST NOT be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must not use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must not use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does not, the player wins. The game may be configured such that, for each puzzle, occurrence of any of the events described above can end the game. Or, the game may be configured such that one or more of the events described above can end game play. Alternatively, the game may not allow a play such as described above, thereby allowing game play to continue without penalizing the player. These configurations may contain more than one word or letter requirement. To this end, game play may vary depending on how the rules of the game are programmed. For example, the game play may include a number of levels with each level having a different set of rules that may apply to end the game.
FIG. 4A illustrates a word puzzle 54 according to a third embodiment of the game of the present invention wherein like numerals represent like features of previously described embodiments. Like the second embodiment of the game described above with respect to FIGS. 3A-3C, word puzzles according to the third embodiment of the game also include a start word and multiple goal words. As shown in FIG. 4A, the word puzzle 54 includes the title block 28 and a playing board 56 populated with the letters of a start word, being A, a first goal word, being HOUSE, a second goal word, being LOVE, and a third and final goal word, being HOME, with at least two of the goal words being related in meaning in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. The start word and one or more of the goal words, or two or more of the goal words of each puzzle, are related in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. The primary difference between the third embodiment of the game and the second embodiment of the game described above with respect to FIGS. 3A-3C, as will be described in further detail below, is that the start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word are vertically aligned on a playing board 56 such that, as the start word is transformed to the final goal word through plays to solve the word puzzle 54, the one or more letters forming the start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word form a shape that corresponds to at least one of the start word, a goal word, a letter, symbol, or character shape, or a letter abbreviation of a word included in a title of the puzzle. Like the previous embodiments of the game described, it will be understood that the third embodiment of the game can also be played on a computing device or alternatively on paper, a board game, or anything where text can be written, for example.
The object of the third embodiment of the game is to solve the word puzzle 54 by transforming the start word to a first goal word through a number of plays or incremental transformations of the start word, and then to transform the first goal word to each subsequent goal through a number of plays or incremental transformations of each word until all goal words are achieved. Like previously described embodiments of the game, each play is defined as an incremental transformation of one word, the word being either the start word, one or more intermediate words, or one or more goal words. To this end, each incremental transformation of a word is accomplished using one of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above. To this end, each of the transformation modes listed in Table 2 above may be enabled as an option for each play or each incremental transformation of a word.
While not shown, once the puzzle 54 has been selected by a player, but not yet solved, the playing board 56 is populated with the start word, the first goal word, the second goal word, and the third goal word. The playing board 56 in this unsolved state may form a shape that corresponds to at least one of the start word, the first goal word or the final goal word, a letter, symbol, or character shape, or a letter abbreviation of a word included in a title of the puzzle 54. Like the previously described embodiments of the game, the playing board 56 may include a number of empty or blank intermediate rows of shapes positioned between the start word and the first goal word, first goal word and the second goal word, and the second goal word and the third goal word. The number of intermediate rows between the start word and each goal word may vary depending on the number of plays taken by a player to solve the puzzle 54. However, the number of empty intermediate rows between the start word and each goal word may be a fixed number, such as four, to define a predetermined number of plays required to achieve the first goal word. Similarly, the number of empty intermediate rows between the first goal word and the second goal word may be a fixed number, signaling to the player that a predetermined number of plays are required to achieve each goal word.
FIG. 4A illustrates one exemplary solution to the word puzzle 54, which is a nothing-to-something word puzzle. In that regard, the start word is a single letter word, being A. As shown, the solution includes six individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in five different intermediate words to achieve the first goal word, three plays resulting in two different intermediate words to achieve the second goal word, and two plays resulting in one intermediate word to achieve the third and final goal word. Thus, the solution includes a total of eleven plays. In this regard, the puzzle 54 was solved as follows: first play, A→AT; second play, AT→HAT; third play, HAT→HOT; fourth play, HOT→HOE; fifth play, HOE→HOSE, sixth play, HOSE→HOUSE to achieve the first goal word, being HOUSE. Upon achieving the first goal word, the player continued to solve the puzzle 54 as follows: seventh play, HOUSE→LOUSE; eighth play, LOUSE→LOSE, ninth play, LOSE→LOVE to achieve the second goal word, being LOVE. Upon achieving the second goal word, the player continued to solve the puzzle 54 as follows: tenth play, LOVE→LOME; eleventh play LOME→HOME to achieve the third goal word, being HOME. Once the first goal word is achieved, followed by the second goal word and the third goal word (i.e., the final goal word), the puzzle 54 is solved.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the letters of the start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word are vertically aligned on the playing board 56 with each letter of each word being arranged within a repeating shape of the grid that forms the playing board 56. The grid shapes having the letters of the start word and the goal word may be in the form of colored, bolded, or shaded shapes 58, as shown. More particularly, the grid that forms the playing board 56 is in the form of a house-shaped grid which corresponds to the first goal word, HOUSE, as well as the final goal word, HOME. To achieve the desired shape of the playing board 56, the letters of each word may be spaced apart along each row such that there are one or more blank grid shapes 60 between letters of each word, as shown in FIG. 4A. That way, letters forming the start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word can be arranged to form a shape that corresponds to at least one of the start word, the first goal word or the final goal word, a letter, symbol, or character shape, or a letter abbreviation of a word included in a title of the puzzle.
In one variation of the third embodiment of the game, the puzzle 54 of FIG. 4A may only include the start word, being A, and a final goal word, being HOME. The solution to the word puzzle 54 may be the same as what is shown in FIG. 4A, however, the player would only be required to achieve the final goal word, being HOME. In this variation, letters forming the start word, each intermediate word, and the final goal word would be arranged as shown in FIG. 4A to form a home-shaped grid that corresponds to at the final goal word.
In the third embodiment of the game, the game ends (i.e., the word puzzle 54 is solved) once the first goal word is achieved followed by each subsequent goal word. However, the game may end in the other ways described above with respect to the first embodiment of the game, such as when the number of plays exceeds a predetermined number of plays. The number of predetermined plays may be fixed for each goal word (e.g., FIG. 4A showing six plays to achieve the first goal word, three plays to achieve the second goal word, and only two plays to achieve the third (final) goal word) or there may be a fixed total number of plays which is the sum of the plays required to reach each goal word. The game may also end after a predetermined time period expires before the final goal word has been achieved. There may be a time period set for achieving each goal word, or just one time period for achieving the final goal word. The game may also end if the start word, an intermediate word, or a goal word is repeated. The game may also end if an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must only use four-letter words and the player cannot transform the next intermediate word into a four-letter word, the player loses. If the player transforms the next intermediate word into a four-letter word, and continues to do so until the player transforms the last intermediate word into the goal word, the player wins. The game may also end if an intermediate word breaks the restriction on the number of letters allowed for each word in the game based on the shape which the letters of the word must fill. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must only use intermediate words whose letters fill the spaces within a triangle shape and the player cannot transform the next intermediate word into an allowable word, the player loses. If the player transforms the next intermediate word into an allowable word, and continues to do so until the player transforms the last intermediate word into the goal word, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that a particular intermediate word MUST be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must use the intermediate word “FLAME” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does not, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must use the intermediate word “FLAME” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that a particular intermediate word MUST NOT be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must not use the intermediate word “GOAD” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must not use the intermediate word “GOAD” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the goal word and does not, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that an intermediate word or goal word containing a particular letter MUST be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does not, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does, the player wins. The game may also end if the player breaks the restriction indicating that an intermediate word or goal word containing a particular letter MUST NOT be used before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word. For example, if the game rule indicates that the player must not use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does, the player loses. If the game rule indicates that the player must not use an intermediate word or goal word containing the letter “W” before the last intermediate word is transformed into the final goal word and does not, the player wins. The game may be configured such that, for each puzzle, occurrence of any of the events described above can end the game. Or, the game may be configured such that one or more of the events described above can end game play. Alternatively, the game may not allow a play such as described above, thereby allowing game play to continue without penalizing the player. These configurations may contain more than one word or letter requirement. To this end, game play may vary depending on how the rules of the game are programmed. For example, the game play may include a number of levels with each level having a different set of rules that may apply to end the game.
FIG. 4B illustrates a word puzzle 62 according to a variation of game play in accordance with the third embodiment of the game wherein like numerals represent like features of previously described embodiments. As shown in FIG. 4B, the title to the word puzzle 62 in the title block 28 is “U (you) MAKE IT HAPPEN”. The word puzzle 62 includes a first start word and a second start word both being MAKE, a first goal word and a second goal word both being IT, and a final goal word, being HAPPEN, which are related in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. More particularly, letters forming each start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word are arranged such that the playing board 64 forms a shape that corresponds to a letter abbreviation of a word included in a title of the puzzle 62. In that regard, the playing board 64 forms the letter “U” which corresponds to the abbreviation of “you” as used in the title of the puzzle 62.
The object of this variation of the third embodiment of the game is to solve the word puzzle 62 by transforming the first start word to the first goal word through a number of plays, and then to transform the first goal word to a first final intermediate word through another number of plays. At the same time, solving also requires transforming of the second start word to the second goal word through a number of plays, followed by the transformation of the second goal word to a second final intermediate word through another number of plays. Together, the first final intermediate word and the second final intermediate word form the final goal word. In that regard, to form the “U” shape of the playing board 64, the first start word, the first goal word, and the first final intermediate word may be vertically aligned in a first grid portion 66 of repeating shapes with each repeating shape containing one letter of the first start word, each intermediate word, the first goal word, and the final intermediate word. Similarly, the second start word, the second goal word, and the second final intermediate word may be vertically aligned in a second grid portion 68 of repeating shapes with each repeating shape containing one letter of the first start word, each intermediate word, the first goal word, and the final intermediate word. The first and the second grids are then connected at a base by a connecting grid portion 70 of repeating shapes with each repeating shape containing one letter of the final goal word.
FIG. 4B illustrates one exemplary solution to the word puzzle 62. As shown, the solution to achieve the first final intermediate word of the first grid portion, being HAP, includes five individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in four different intermediate words to achieve the first goal word, and three plays resulting in two different intermediate words to achieve the first final intermediate word. In this regard, the puzzle 62 is solved as follows: first play, MAKE→BAKE; second play, BAKE→BIKE; third play, BIKE→BITE; fourth play, BITE→BIT; and the fifth play, BIT→IT to achieve the first goal word, being IT. Upon achieving the first goal word, the player continues to solve the puzzle 62 as follows: sixth play, IT→HIT; seventh play, HIT→HIP; and the eighth play, HIP→HAP to achieve the first final intermediate word, being HAP. The solution to achieve the second final intermediate word of the second grid portion, being PEN, also includes five individual word transformations, or plays, resulting in four different intermediate words to achieve the second goal word, and three plays resulting in two different intermediate words to achieve the second final intermediate word. In this regard, the puzzle 62 is solved as follows: first play, MAKE→LAKE; second play, LAKE→LIKE; third play, LIKE→LITE; fourth play, LITE→LIT; and the fifth play, LIT→IT to achieve the second goal word, being IT. Upon achieving the second goal word, the player continues to solve the puzzle 62 as follows: sixth play, IT→PIT; seventh play, PIT→PIN; and the eighth play, PIN→PEN to achieve the second final intermediate word, being PEN. Once the first and the second final intermediate words are achieved the final goal word is achieved, which is a combination of both the first and second final intermediate words (HAP+PEN=HAPPEN), the puzzle 62 is solved. To solve this puzzle 62, the player may simultaneously transform the first start word and the second start word to achieve the respective first final intermediate word and second final intermediate word, or the player may complete each task separately. The variation of the third embodiment of the game illustrated in FIG. 4B may end in the same ways as the third embodiment of the game described with respect to FIG. 4A.
FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate word puzzles according to a fourth embodiment of the game of the present invention wherein like numerals represent like features of previously described embodiments. The primary difference between the fourth embodiment of the game and the previously described embodiments of the game is that the grid of the playing board includes a background image that corresponds to at least one of the start word or end word(s). Variations of the fourth embodiment of the game will be described in turn below.
FIG. 5A illustrates a word puzzle 72 according to a variation of the fourth embodiment of the game. The word puzzle 72 includes the title block 28 containing the puzzle title, a first start word, being POOR, and a goal word, being RICH, which are related in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. The object of the game is the same as the first embodiment of the game described above with respect to FIGS. 2A-2I and thus will not be described for brevity purposes. Like the playing boards of the previously described embodiments, the playing board 74 forms a grid comprising rows and columns of repeating shapes, such as squares, for example, with each shape containing one letter of the start word, each intermediate word, and the final goal word. The playing board 74 illustrated in FIG. 5A also includes a plurality of first colored shapes 76 and a plurality of second colored shapes 78. As shown, the arrangement of the first colored shapes 76 and the second colored shapes 78 form a background image, being a dollar sign (“$”), which is related to the meaning of the puzzle title, “POOR to RICH”. It is also the case that the dollar sign background image is related to both the start word, POOR, and the final goal word, RICH. While FIG. 5A illustrates one example of a background image, it is understood that other background images that relate to the meaning of the title of the word puzzle 72, the start word, and/or the goal word, which may be defined by a variety of different colored grid shapes, are possible. It is also understood that any of the previously described embodiments of the game may be played on a playing board similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5A.
FIG. 5B illustrates a word puzzle 80 according to another variation of the fourth embodiment of the game. The word puzzle 80 includes the title block 28 containing the puzzle title, a first start word, being A, a first goal word, being SPARK, a second goal word, being FLAME, a third goal word, being FIRE, a fourth goal word, being HEAT, a fifth goal word, being ASH, and a final goal word, being I, with at least the goal words being related in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. To this end, the puzzle 80 may be considered a nothing-to-nothing puzzle, as each of the start word and the goal word are single letter words. However, other puzzles are possible such as a something-to-nothing puzzle, a nothing-to-something puzzle, or a puzzle where each of the start word and the final goal word have more than one letter, for example. In any event, the object of the game is the same as the second embodiment of the game described above with respect to FIGS. 3A-3C and thus will not be described for brevity purposes.
Like the playing boards of the previously described embodiments, the playing board 82 forms a grid comprising rows and columns of repeating shapes, such as squares, for example, with each shape containing one letter of the start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word. The playing board 82 illustrated in FIG. 5B also includes a plurality of uncolored shapes 84, a plurality of first colored shapes 86, and a plurality of second colored shapes 88. As shown, the arrangement of the uncolored shapes 84, the first colored shapes 86, and the second colored shapes 88 forms a background image that corresponds to one or more of the goal words, namely, SPARK, FLAME, FIRE, or HEAT. The start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word are vertically arranged on the playing board 82 with the letters of each word laterally offset by one or more shapes from each other within the grid. In this regard, an outline of the start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word, defined in part by the arrangement of the plurality of uncolored shapes 84, the plurality of first colored shapes 86, and the plurality of second colored shapes 88, forms the background image that corresponds to one or more of the goal words. While not shown, the background image may correspond to one of the start word or the goal word, for example. While FIG. 5B illustrates one example of a background image, it is understood that other background images that relate to the meaning of the title of the word puzzle 80, the start word, and/or one or more goal words, which may be defined by a variety of different colored grid shapes and the laterally offsetting of words, are possible. It is also understood that any of the previously described embodiments of the game may be played on a playing board similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5B.
FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate word puzzles according to a fifth embodiment of the game of the present invention wherein like numerals represent like features of previously described embodiments. The primary difference between the fifth embodiment of the game and the previously described fourth embodiment of the game is that the playing board includes a background image that corresponds to at least one of the start word or end word(s). Variations of the fifth embodiment of the game will be described in turn below.
FIG. 6A illustrates a word puzzle 90 according to a variation of the fifth embodiment of the game. The word puzzle 90 includes the title block 28 containing the puzzle title, a first start word, being PAY, a first goal word, being TO, and a final goal word, being PLAY, which are related in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. The object of the game is the same as the second embodiment of the game described above with respect to FIGS. 3A-3C and thus will not be described for brevity purposes. Like the playing boards of the previously described embodiments, the playing board 92 includes a grid 94 comprising rows and columns of repeating shapes, such as squares, for example, with each shape containing one letter of the start word, each intermediate word, and each goal word. While the words are vertically arranged, the words may be laterally offset, as shown, but this does not need to be the case. In any event, the playing board 92 also includes a background image 96 that corresponds to the title of the word puzzle 90 as well as one or more of the start word, first goal word, and final goal word. In that regard, the background image is in the form of money, such as a simplified $100 bill. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, other background images that relate to the meaning of the title of the word puzzle 90, the start word, and/or one or more goal words are possible. It is also understood that any of the previously described embodiments of the game may be played on a playing board similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6A.
FIG. 6B illustrates a word puzzle 98 according to another variation of the fifth embodiment of the game. The word puzzle 98 includes the title block 28 containing the puzzle title, a first start word, being CLOUD and a final goal word, being RAIN, which are related in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. The object of the game is the same as the first embodiment of the game described above with respect to FIGS. 2A-2I and thus will not be described for brevity purposes. As shown, the playing board 100 is formed of shapes that correspond to the start word and the final goal word. More particularly, the letters of the start word are arranged within a first, cloud shape 102, that corresponds to the start word, being CLOUD. The remainder of the playing board 100 includes rows and columns of repeating second shapes 104 in the form of rain droplets with each shape 104 containing one letter of the start word, each intermediate word, and the goal word. To this end, the rain droplet shapes 104 correspond to the goal word, being RAIN. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, other shapes that relate to the meaning of the title of the word puzzle 98, the start word, and/or one or more goal words are possible. It is also understood that any of the previously described embodiments of the game may be played on a playing board similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6B. The grid shapes 104 having the letters of the start word and the goal word may be in the form of colored, bolded, or shaded shapes 106. Similarly, the cloud shape may also be colored.
FIG. 6C illustrates a word puzzle 108 according to another variation of the fifth embodiment of the game. The word puzzle 108 includes the title block 28 containing the puzzle title, a first start word, being COLD and final goal word, being WARM, which are related in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. The object of the game is the same as the first embodiment of the game described above with respect to FIGS. 2A-2I and thus will not be described for brevity purposes. As shown, the playing board 110 is arranged on a background image 112 that corresponds to the meaning of the title of the word puzzle 108, the start word, and/or the goal word. In this regard, the background image 112 is of a shower, being related in meaning to COLD and WARM (i.e., a temperature of the shower or bath water). More particularly, aspects of the background image 112 form a grid comprising rows and columns of repeating shapes, such as squares, for example, with each shape containing one letter of the start word and the final goal word. Specifically, shower tiles 114 form the repeating square shapes containing the letters of each word. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, other background images that relate to the meaning of the title of the word puzzle 108, the start word, and/or one or more goal words are possible. It is also understood that any of the previously described embodiments of the game may be played on a playing board similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6C.
FIG. 7 illustrates a word puzzle 116 according to a variation of game play in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the game wherein like numerals represent like features of previously described embodiments. As shown, the title to the word puzzle 116 in the title block 28 is “BEER can be made from: WATER, MALT, HOPS, and YEAST”. In this regard, the word puzzle 116 includes a first goal word, being WATER, a second goal word, being MALT, a third goal word, being HOPS, and a fourth goal word, being YEAST, which are related in one or more of the ways listed in Table 1 above. The goal words are each an ingredient used to make beer, as stated in the title of the word puzzle 116. Each goal word defines an individual sub-puzzle to be solved, with each sub-puzzle sharing the same starting word, being A, although it will be understood that different starting letters may be used in other embodiments, such as B, E, E, and R to form the first word from the clue described above. Each sub-puzzle may be considered a nothing-to-something puzzle, for example. As shown, the sub-puzzles are adjacently arranged on the playing board 118 which includes a grid of repeating shapes, such as hexagons, for example. Each sub-puzzle is separated by darkened grid lines 120 or any other indicator suitable to divide the sub-puzzles. The start word, each intermediate word, and the goal word of each sub-puzzle are vertically aligned on the playing board 118 with each letter of each word being arranged within a repeating shape of the grid that forms the playing board 118. In the exemplary puzzle 116 shown, the sub-puzzles are adjacently arranged to form a circle or pin-wheel shape.
The object of the sixth embodiment of the game is to solve the word puzzle 116 by transforming the first start word to the goal word of each sub-puzzle through a number of plays. In this regard, the object of the game is the same as the first embodiment of the game described above with respect to FIGS. 2A-2I and thus will not be described for brevity purposes. The player may need to solve each sub-puzzle one at a time or simultaneously. The puzzle 116 is considered solved once each goal word is achieved.
While the game of the present invention has been illustrated by a description of several exemplary embodiments and variations thereof, and while these embodiments and variations have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Thus, the various features discussed herein with respect to each embodiment of the game and variation thereof may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the general inventive concept.
Patent Application
20240207716
