This disclosure relates to a tile tray configured to facilitate manipulation of tiles. More specifically, the disclosed tile tray includes at least one cell including a bottom, at least one side abutting the bottom and extending upward therefrom, a node extending upward from the bottom and having a flat top surface, and a channel between the node and the at least one side. A tile positioned atop the top surface of the node may be manipulated by pressing a portion of the tile into the channel, thereby raising the opposite portion of the tile, the node serving as a fulcrum. The portion pressed into the channel may be moved along the channel, thereby rotating the tile, or the raised opposite portion may be grasped by a user to flip or move the tile.

This disclosure relates to a tile tray configured to facilitate manipulation of tiles. More specifically, the disclosed tile tray includes at least one cell including a bottom, at least one side abutting the bottom and extending upward therefrom, a node extending upward from the bottom and having a flat top surface, and a channel between the node and the at least one side. A tile positioned atop the top surface of the node may be manipulated by pressing a portion of the tile into the channel, thereby raising the opposite portion of the tile, the node serving as a fulcrum. The portion pressed into the channel may be moved along the channel, thereby rotating the tile, or the raised opposite portion may be grasped by a user to flip or move the tile.

Disclosed is a set of a plurality dice useful for playing a spelling game among multiple players and an exemplary method of playing the game. The plurality of dice is assembleable to form a dice block attractive for packaging. Typically, all of the dice are cube shaped and of the same dimensions. Each die of the set has each of its faces labeled with a character set consisting of one or more letters of the alphabet. The manner of play can be varied by altering the total number of individual dice in the dice set used for play, for example from 125 dice to 100 dice, by adding or removing dice specifically color-coded for that purpose. Thus the manner of play can be adjusted to alter the difficulty of play or the total time of play.

A field of play may include linearly arranged locations in which a game piece, e.g., representative of a letter, may be played, in an attempt to form words. An example field of play includes a 55 grid formed of squares. Each playable location in the field of play is randomly assigned a unique integer number from 1-n, where n is the total number of playable locations. Each of two or more players use identically shaped fields of play, but having different randomly assigned numbers. Players take turns placing letters in their field of play to form words and, as they do so, the same letter is automatically placed into all opponent's fields of play at the same numbered location, thereby obstructing the opponent's progress in forming his own words in his own field of play. Scoring may be based on the number and length of words formed by each player.

A system and method to facilitate moves in a word game includes a game asset distribution module that adjusts the respective distribution weights of letters in a set of alphabet letters. The letters are distributed to players in a word game with a probability proportional to the distribution weights. The game asset distribution module includes an analysis module to analyze the game board, lists of playable words, player skill levels, and relationships of particular letters in word formations. Accordingly, distribution weights of the letters are adjusted in order to facilitate allocation to the player of those letters which will facilitate word formation, ensure at least a minimum playable word experience, and enhance an overall user experience, even amongst players with significantly different skill levels.

This invention is a word puzzle (game) that uses a square grid of letters. The grid is comprised of a plurality of rows and columns of letters, where the number of rows and columns is equal. The preferred embodiment has four rows and four columns, but other dimensions are possible. This puzzle is geared primarily for individual players using internet-based embodiments, but this puzzle could also be the basis for a multi-player board game or have other physical embodiments. The player is presented with a square grid of letters, and the player's goal is to rearrange the letters to spell a plurality of words of a specified length. The number of words required for a correct solution and the number of letters in each word comprising the solution equal the dimensions of the grid. For example, the four-by-four grid solution requires four four-letter words for a correct solution.

Disclosed is a gaming unit for a gaming system, the gaming system comprising the gaming unit and a plurality of playing pieces, each playing piece of the plurality of playing pieces comprising a magnet and having an identifier. The gaming unit comprises: a play zone for arranging one or more playing pieces of the plurality of playing pieces on the gaming unit; a control unit; and a first magnetic unit configured to generate or alter a magnetic field for magnetically affecting one or more playing pieces arranged in the play zone. The first magnetic unit being operationally connected to the control unit. The control unit is configured to detect the identifier of a playing piece arranged in the play zone and responsive to the detection of one more particular identifiers generate a control signal controlling the first magnetic unit to generate or alter a magnetic field thereby magnetically affecting one or more playing pieces in the play zone.

An electronic word game uses a plurality of tiles and electronic rack to make one or more words. The tiles are received in a plurality of receivers in the rack enabling electronic communication between the tiles and rack. Each tile includes a display screen, a microprocessor, and communication means. The rack includes an on-off switch, microprocessor, speaker, power source, and a means of communicating with each tile. A capacitor in each tile provides power to keep the display screen on temporarily after the tile is removed from the rack. The microprocessor includes a means for selecting a word to be spelled based on the number of tiles selected to play the game (between 3 and 7 tiles), a means for determining whether a word has been formed, and a means to signal the player that a word has been formed.

Specialized gaming systems and methods for providing secure gaming features in which payouts are based upon the presence and identification of patterns of letters within an arrangement of letters, said pattern matching a word or phrase within a pre-defined dictionary.

A gameplay system including user-manipulable components includes a gameplay surface having a rectangular shape, a plurality of tiles configured to be arranged on the gameplay surface, a tile bag configured to hold a first subset of the plurality of tiles, and a plurality of racks configured to hold a second subset of the plurality of tiles. Each tile of the plurality of tiles includes an indicator imprinted thereon representing an alphabetic letter. The first and second subsets of the plurality of tiles are configured to be arranged as a third subset of the plurality of tiles.