Game With User Configurable Board and Method

Abstract

A game kit having a game board assembled from a plurality of individual tiles is provided. The tiles each have a collapsed position and open to reveal a three-dimensional depiction of an object or location. The tiles are configurable for a plurality of different games by changing game indicia thereon. Players visit the different locations on the assembled game board and look for clues to accomplish tasks toward ending the game by accomplishing one final goal. A storyteller may serve as the director of game play for the players

Claims

1. A game kit, comprising: a game board formed from a plurality of individual game tiles; each game tile having a first side panel pivotally engaged to a second side panel; a sidewall extending around a perimeter edge of each said second side panel; at least one releasable fastener positioned on said sidewall of said second side panel of each of said plurality of game tiles; a connection between respective said releasable fasteners positioned on said sidewall of adjacent said game tiles forming respective removable engagements of said releasable fasteners thereon to hold said plurality of individual game tiles forming said game board; each said game tile having a deployed configuration with said first side panel rotated to a substantially perpendicular position relative to said second side panel which is positioned upon a support surface; each said game tile having a collapsed position with said first side panel folded against said second side panel; each said game tile having a different three-dimensional object depiction which is exposed while in said deployed configuration; a game board map providing instructions for assembly of a game board using respective individual game tiles from said plurality of game tiles; and a plurality of character markers from which to choose a respective one each by each said game players, for marking each said players positioning on said game board during play.

2. The game kit of claim 1 additionally comprising: each said game tile having a support member engaged thereto; and said support member positionable to hold said game tile in said deployed configuration.

3. The game kit of claim 1 additionally comprising: an episode instruction card, said episode instruction card providing game players information about the game to be played on the assembled game board.

4. The game kit of claim 2 additionally comprising: an episode instruction card, said episode instruction card providing game players information about the game to be played on the assembled game board.

5. The game kit of claim 1 additionally comprising: a game card, said game card having game play indicia thereon for a plurality of individual games; said game card insertable into a cavity formed in said first side panel of each respective said game tile; an opening in a rear surface of said first side panel, said opening communicating with said cavity; said game card having a plurality of orientations for insertion into said cavity, each respective orientation positioning a different respective said game play indicia concerning a different game episode, for disclosure to said players, within said opening; whereby said game tiles in said plurality of game tiles are employable for a plurality of different individual games depending on the orientation of the game card inserted into the cavity of each said game tile.

6. The game kit of claim 3 additionally comprising: a game card, said game card having game play indicia thereon for a plurality of individual games; said game card insertable into a cavity formed in said first side panel of each respective said game tile; an opening in a rear surface of said first side panel, said opening communicating with said cavity; said game card having a plurality of orientations for insertion into said cavity, each respective orientation positioning a different respective said game play indicia concerning a different game episode, for disclosure to said players, within said opening; whereby said game tiles in said plurality of game tiles are employable for a plurality of different individual games depending on the orientation of the game card inserted into the cavity of each said game tile.

7. The game kit of claim 4 additionally comprising: a game card, said game card having game play indicia thereon for a plurality of individual games; said game card insertable into a cavity formed in said first side panel of each respective said game tile; an opening in a rear surface of said first side panel, said opening communicating with said cavity; said game card having a plurality of orientations for insertion into said cavity, each respective orientation positioning a different respective said game play indicia concerning a different game episode, for disclosure to said players, within said opening; whereby said game tiles in said plurality of game tiles are employable for a plurality of different individual games depending on the orientation of the game card inserted into the cavity of each said game tile.

8. The game kit of claim 5 additionally comprising: said game board having a designated storyteller side thereof, said storyteller side positioned to face said openings located in said rear surfaces of said first side panels of said plurality of said game tiles forming said game board; and said game board having a designated game player side thereof, said game player side positioned facing front surface of said game tiles forming said game board, said front surface being on opposite sides of said first side panels from said rear surfaces thereof.

9. The game kit of claim 6 additionally comprising: said game board having a designated storyteller side thereof, said storyteller side positioned to face said openings located in said rear surfaces of said first side panels of said plurality of said game tiles forming said game board; and said game board having a designated game player side thereof, said game player side positioned facing front surface of said game tiles forming said game board, said front surface being on opposite sides of said first side panels from said rear surfaces thereof.

10. The game kit of claim 7 additionally comprising: said game board having a designated storyteller side thereof, said storyteller side positioned to face said openings located in said rear surfaces of said first side panels of said plurality of said game tiles forming said game board; and said game board having a designated game player side thereof, said game player side positioned facing front surface of said game tiles forming said game board, said front surface being on opposite sides of said first side panels from said rear surfaces thereof.

11. The game kit of claim 8, additionally comprising: a game play instruction designating one player to act as said storyteller; a game episode setup instruction card employed by said storyteller, said episode setup instruction card designating the game tiles required for the specific game episode to be played; said episode setup instruction card designating to said storyteller the individual characters to include in said plurality of game characters; an episode instruction for said storyteller to read to said game players; a game board map for said storyteller to assemble said game board from said game tiles; a progress chart correlating to said game episode, said progress chart itemizing tasks which must be accomplished by players during said game; and an end game instruction for reading to said players by said storyteller itemizing a task to be accomplished to end the game.

12. The game kit of claim 9, additionally comprising: a game play instruction designating one player to act as said storyteller; a game episode setup instruction card employed by said storyteller, said episode setup instruction card designating the game tiles required for the specific game episode to be played; said episode setup instruction card designating to said storyteller the individual characters to include in said plurality of game characters; an episode instruction for said storyteller to read to said game players; a game board map for said storyteller to assemble said game board from said game tiles; a progress chart correlating to said game episode, said progress chart itemizing tasks which must be accomplished by players during said game; and an end game instruction for reading to said players by said storyteller itemizing a task to be accomplished to end the game.

13. The game kit of claim 10, additionally comprising: a game play instruction designating one player to act as said storyteller; a game episode setup instruction card employed by said storyteller, said episode setup instruction card designating the game tiles required for the specific game episode to be played; said episode setup instruction card designating to said storyteller the individual characters to include in said plurality of game characters; an episode instruction for said storyteller to read to said game players; a game board map for said storyteller to assemble said game board from said game tiles; a progress chart correlating to said game episode, said progress chart itemizing tasks which must be accomplished by players during said game; and an end game instruction for reading to said players by said storyteller itemizing a task to be accomplished to end the game.

14. A method of playing the game of claim 11, comprising the steps of: designating a storyteller pursuant to said game play instruction; having said storyteller choose the required said game tiles designated on said game episode setup instruction card for the game to be played; having said storyteller assemble said game board from said required game board tiles according to said game board map; having said storyteller assemble a group of said individual game characters available to said players according to the episode setup instruction card; having said players each choose a respective game character from group of assembled game characters; having said storyteller read said episode instruction card to said players; having said players play the game according to the episode instruction card; and having said storyteller employ said progress chart to track said tasks which must be accomplished by said players during said game; and upon completion of said tasks on said progress chart by said players, having said storyteller read said end game instruction to said players to reveal said task to be accomplished to end the game.

15. A method of playing the game of claim 12, comprising the steps of: designating a storyteller pursuant to said game play instruction; having said storyteller choose the required said game tiles designated on said game episode setup instruction card for the game to be played; having said storyteller assemble said game board from said required game board tiles according to said game board map; having said storyteller assemble a group of said individual game characters available to said players according to the episode setup instruction card; having said players each choose a respective game character from a group of assembled game characters; having said storyteller read said episode instruction card to said players; having said players play the game according to the episode instruction card; and having said storyteller employ said progress chart to track said tasks which must be accomplished by said players during said game; and upon completion of said tasks on said progress chart by said players, having said storyteller read said end game instruction to said players to reveal said task to be accomplished to end the game.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0039] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the disclosed game system and method. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion.

In the drawings:

[0040] FIG. 1 depicts a typical game board tile for the game kit herein having a clamshell configuration of two folding sides which move from the stored position shown in FIG. 2 to a deployed position with three dimensional object depictions as in FIG. 1, 3-4.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the folding game board tile of FIG. 1 in a folded position held by the support member and hiding the three dimensional depictions therein.

[0042] FIG. 2A shows a game tile held in the open or deployed position by a support member.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows another example of an unfolded three dimensional game board tiles herein having three dimensional object depictions thereon.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows another example of an unfolded three dimensional game board tile herein.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a rear surface of one of the two folding sides of the game board tiles as in FIGS. 1, 3-4 showing a game card having multiple orientation correlating to multiple games which, once inserted into the rear wall cavity, will position game play indicia, for the room or location represented on the tile three dimensional depiction, for an individual game, from the plurality on the game card, into view in a window opening.

[0046] FIG. 6 shows a game board set up for use by the storyteller in assembling a game board for a chosen game, from individual tiles.

[0047] FIG. 6A depicts an individual game board map provided in the game kit for each game or game episode to the storyteller to assemble the game board such as in FIG. 6.

[0048] FIG. 7 depicts a plurality of characters for choosing by players as their game marker.

[0049] FIG. 8 depicts an example of a progress chart provided in the game kit and employed by the storyteller to direct game play by the players.

[0050] FIG. 9 shows an episode setup instruction card in the game kit which is employed by the storyteller to set up an individual game episode for the players, from the plurality in the game kit.

[0051] FIG. 10 is an example of an episode introduction in the game kit, which the storyteller reads to the players which correlates to an individual episode of the game to be played.

[0052] FIG. 11 shows an example of end game instructions from the game kit, which the storyteller reads to the players to communicate one or a plurality of tasks to accomplish to finish the individual game being played.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only and such are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0054] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-11, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 a typical game board tile 12 provided in the game kit herein to enable the method of play herein. The game tiles 12 have a clamshell configuration having a first side panel 14 in a folding or pivoting engagement 18 with a second side panel 16. The tiles shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-4, as with all tiles 12 employed in the game herein, have a folded or collapsed position shown in FIG. 2. In this collapsed position, the three dimensional object depictions 20 are also collapsed and hidden in-between the adjacent first side panel 14 and second side panel 16. By the term, three dimensional object depictions 20, is meant, that three dimensional objects are formed in a pop-up, by the unfolding of a tile 12, such as furniture, paintings, wall fixtures, rugs, shelves, tables, chairs, windows, openings, openable doors, vehicles, passages, lamps, home furniture, books, and the like. This listings is not intended to be limiting, and any furniture or object which would occur to those skilled in the art and can be formed in a pop-up configuration, is intended within this definition. Further, while this application focuses on using folding tiles 12 which open so show three dimensional objects 20, it is envisioned that at least one tile 12 may be employed as a first tile in the game, which does not fold, but does have a three dimensional object 20 thereon, which will collapse.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, each tile will preferably have a support member 15. The support member 15 as shown in FIG. 2 is engaged to one of the first folding panel 14 or the second folding panel 16. With the tile 12 in the collapsed position of FIG. 2, the support member 15 may be employed to hold the tile 12 in the collapsed position when it is being stored, or before the storyteller opens it during a game. Where used to hold the tile 12 in the collapsed position, a releasable connector 17, such as hook and loop fabric, magnets, or a post and socket engagement, or the like, will be included, to secure the distal end of the support member 15 in place. As shown in FIG. 2A, this support member 15 is removably positionable in contact between the first side panel 14 and second side panel 16, to hold the tile 12 in the open or deployed position of FIG. 2A. While not shown in some of the depictions of tiles 12 herein, the support member 15 is preferred for inclusion in all modes of the game herein to provide ease of use to both deploy and hold the tiles 12 in their two states.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3-4, when in a deployed configuration, the tiles 12 have three-dimensional objects 20 thereon. The provision of such three-dimensional objects 20 provides the players with many hiding places to search during the game, to find clues and instructions to move forward. While a three-dimensional chair and piano and boiler and the like are shown, this should not be limiting and any three-dimensional object that may be depicted relating to a story being told may be used.

[0057] Each of the tiles 12 has one or a plurality of releasable fasteners 22 located in positions on a sidewall 24 of the second side panel 18. These releasable fasteners 22 are employed to connect the individual tiles 12 to form a game board 26 such as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, the tiles 12 can be assembled in an infinite number of configurations to accommodate different game episodes.

[0058] Shown in FIG. 5, is a depiction of a game card 28 which has game play indicia 21 thereon such as instructions, hints, and clues. As shown, the game card 28 has such game play indica 21 for a plurality of different respective games thereon in different positions and orientations on the game card 28. The game card 28 is rotatable in orientation, prior to insertion into a cavity 30 formed in the first side panel 14 which as shown will be the first side panel 14 which is positioned substantially perpendicular to the second side panel 16 when in the deployed or unfolded configuration and held in such a position by the support member 15.

[0059] Depending on the chosen orientation during insertion into the cavity 30, one of the plurality of different individual game play indica 21, located on the game card 28, will align in an upright and readable position within an opening 32 in a rear surface 34 of the first side panel 14. With the game card 28 inserted into the cavity 30, in the orientation for the game to be played, this game play indica 21 will be positioned on the tile 12 for reading and review by the storyteller, and revealing to the players at the appropriate time during game play.

[0060] The employment of this game card 28 having this plurality of orientations for insertion into the cavity 30 to display one of a plurality of different game play indica 21 through the opening 32, allows the clues and information in the game indicia for each tile 12 to change. Thus, each tile 12, can be used for and assembled into a respective game board 26, for any of multiple and different games playable in the game kit. This is most preferred in all modes of the game kit and method of game play herein.

[0061] Shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A is an example of the set up of the game board 26 by the storyteller for a specific game, using a game board map 25. An individual game board map 25 is provided in the game kit, for each individual game for which the plurality of tiles 12 may be assembled. It is employed by the storyteller to correctly assemble a game board 26, which correlates to the story episode or game from the plurality of games for which the tiles 12 may be employed.

[0062] During setup, the storyteller will consult this game board map 25, and choose the appropriate tiles 12 to assemble the game board 26 to provide the individual locations the players will visit during the game. The tiles 12 will be positioned with their respective releasable fasteners 22 engaged to form the game board 26. Such releasable fasteners 22 may be magnets or buttons, or hook and loop fabric, or other releasable fasteners 22 as would occur to those skilled in the art. The first game tile 12 for the location on the game board 26 for the start of the game will be positioned to the open or deployed position, and the support member 15 will be engaged to hold that position.

[0063] In FIG. 7 is shown an example of a family of character markers 36 from which players will choose their character from the family correlating to a marker, for play in the game. As noted, it is intended in the game herein, that the players will try to act with the same personality and characteristics of their chosen character during the game.

[0064] As noted above, the storyteller will track the progress of the players in achieving certain tasks during game play. These tasks will differ with each game but will be listed on a progress chart 38 as tasks to be completed. The storyteller will watch the players playing the game and performing their individual actions during a turn in each room they encounter. Such actions, for example, may be looking under beds or chairs and in hiding places in the three-dimensional objects 20 to find clues or instructions, or to find loose objects which will aid in game play such as toy guns, hammers, or other loose objects. Once the storyteller determines all tasks for a room have been accomplished, the storyteller will direct the players to the tile 12 holding the next room where they will perform actions toward accomplishing tasks.

[0065] As noted, the storyteller has the task of setting up the game board 26, matching the game cards 28 to their respective cavities 30 in respective tiles 12, and to direct game play. Each tile 12 so assembled will be a different location on the game board 26 which the players will visit during a game. FIG. 9 shows an example of an episode setup task list 40 which is used by the storyteller at the outset of a game, to determine the components needed to play the game for the individual game or episode of choice.

[0066] During game play, as noted above, the storyteller will read an introduction to the players at the start of game play of each episode of the story. FIG. 10 shows an example of such an episode introduction 42. Of course the verbiage of such episode introductions 42 will vary depending on the characters and game being played. The players will then move to different locations on the game board represented by the tiles 12 thereon.

[0067] At a point in the game, where the storyteller determines from the progress chart 38 that the appropriate tasks have been accomplished by the players, the storyteller will start the play of an end game. At the start of the end game, the storyteller will read an end game explanation of one or more tasks or goals that need to be accomplished to end or win the game. FIG. 11 depicts an example of such an end game explanation 44 which, of course, will vary in wording, background, and goals, depending on the episode of the game being played.

[0068] It should be noted that any of the different depicted and described configurations and components of the removably engageable game board tiles forming the game system herein, can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and described as part of the device herein. Additionally, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof and/or steps in the method of production or use, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instance some features, or configurations, of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.