US20120313321A1

US20120313321A1 - Game

Info

Publication number: US20120313321A1
Application number: US13/435,953
Authority: US
Inventors: Brian M. Yu; Jeffrey Warren Bazarko
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 2009-10-11
Filing date: 2012-03-30
Publication date: 2012-12-13

Abstract

A game and method of play is provided. It includes a plurality of multifaceted dice having a plurality of characters on the faces of said dice. A rule set is also provided. It includes a plurality of rules, one of the rules of being that a player identify a selected word that corresponds to said at least one character appearing on said uppermost face of one of said plurality of dice, said selected word corresponding to a pre-selected adjective.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/901,031, filed on Oct. 8, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/250,555, filed on Oct. 11, 2009, the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/480,830 filed on Apr. 29, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

APPLES to APPLES® is a popular card game with children and adults. It combines aspects of chance found in all card games with player intellect and social skills to provide amusement to all players involved.
In one embodiment of the game, each player is dealt seven “red apple” cards. Each of those cards includes a noun or noun phrase printed thereon. One of the players is initially determined to be the judge for the first round. The judge draws a “green apple” card. The “green apple” card includes an adjective printed thereon. The “green apple” card is placed face-up on the playing surface so that every player can see it. Each player, with the exception of the judge, chooses a card from their own seven card hand that they think is the best match for the “green apple” card. Those cards are placed face-down.
The judge then shuffles the “red apple” cards that have been discarded by the players, reads them aloud and/or shows the other players those cards and then decides which noun on the “red apple” cards best matches the adjective shown on the face-up “green apple” card. A match, is simply the noun that is the favorite word to go with the adjective. While the other players may disagree with the choice, the decision is solely that of the judge for the particular hand—and the judge may make his decision on any basis he or she deems appropriate.
The player who submitted the chosen “red apple” card wins the round, and takes the “green apple” card as an indication of the win for that round. Each player then draws a new “red apple” card to replace the card discarded. The judge is rotated is then rotated to another player. The new judge may be the winner of the last round or may simply pass to the next player on a rotational basis.
The winner of the game is the first player to obtain a predetermined number of green apple cards. A more detailed description of related gameplay concepts is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,308, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An educational game to provide amusement to players is disclosed. In one aspect of a disclosed embodiment, a game is provided. It includes a plurality of multifaceted dice having a plurality of characters on the faces of each said die. A rule set is also provided. It includes a plurality of rules, one of the rules of providing that a player identify a selected word that corresponds to at least one character appearing on the uppermost face of one of the plurality of dice, the selected word corresponding to a pre-selected adjective.
In another aspect of a disclosed embodiment, a method of playing a card game is also provided. It includes providing a plurality of players and providing a die having a plurality of faces for each player, the faces imprinted with at least one character. The game provides for rolling the dice so that at least one character appears on an uppermost face of each the die and announcing a word corresponding to the at least one character appearing on the uppermost face of one of the die. Each player chooses a selected word that corresponds to the at least one character appearing on the uppermost face of their die. A judge determines one of the selected words that best complements the announced word and a point is awarded to the player whose selected word was determined to best complement the announced word.
In yet another aspect of a disclosed embodiment, a method of playing a game is provided. It comprises providing a plurality of multifaceted dice having a plurality of letters imprinted on the faces to a plurality of players and rolling the multifaceted dice having a plurality of letters imprinted on the faces. An adjective that begins with one of the plurality of letters on an upturned face of one of the multifaceted dice is identified. A plurality of selected words that correspond to the at least one letter appearing on the uppermost face of the other die are selected. From the selected words, a single selected word is determined that most closely represents the identified adjective. A point is awarded to one player that chose the single selected word.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing various aspects of the card game in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one exemplary embodiment of the card game in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view showing various aspects of an alternative embodiment of a game in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates one non-limiting example of the characters found on each of the plurality of dice used in one non-limiting embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one exemplary embodiment of the game in accordance with the alternative embodiment of the game illustrated in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Figures, where exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated, and in particular to FIG. 1, where various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments, without limiting same, a card game 10, capable of being carried in a modular case 12 is shown. Modular case 12 includes and interior portion (not shown) capable of storing the contents of the game 10 when game 10 is not in use. The interior portion is accessed by access door 14 that is slidably removable from modular case 10 via the use of a thumb latch 16.
Modular case 12 includes a top panel 20 having a first portion 21 capable of retaining at least a first set of game cards 31 and a second portion 22 capable of retaining a second set of game cards 32. Adjacent first and second portions 21 and 22 are first and second finger depressions 23 and 24, respectively. Finger depressions 23 and 24 allow game players to easily obtain a card from either of first set of game cards 31 or second set of game cards 32 during game play. A finger or thumb of a game player is inserted in either of the depressions 23, 24 to hold one or the other set of game cards 31, 32 in place while the other of a finger or thumb slides the top card from the first or second set of game cards 31, 32.
A third tray portion 25 is located on top panel 20 and is adjacent second portion 22. Third tray portion 25 is recessed from the remainder of top panel 20 and is defined by a first side wall 41 adjacent second portion 22 and a second side wall 42 opposed to first side wall 42 and generally parallel thereto. First and second side walls 41 and 42 are connected by a rear sidewall 43 which is generally orthogonal to first and second side walls 41 and 42. The bottom 44 of third tray portion 25 is open to a front side 45 of modular case 12 to allow access to the recess of third tray portion 25 to facilitate game play, as will be described hereinafter.
Card game 10 includes a deck of game cards 30, comprised of the aforementioned first set of game cards 31 and second set of game cards 32. In an exemplary embodiment, there are one hundred and twenty game cards in each deck of game cards 30. Each individual game card includes a first card side or first face and a second card side or second face. The first side is imprinted with a picture or design. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the design is a red apple, thus giving name to the deck of game cards 30 being referred to as “red apple” game cards. The second side of each individual game card is imprinted with a noun, together with a short definition of the noun. It will be appreciated that the definition of the noun may be omitted in other exemplary embodiments. It is provided to enhance and facilitate game play. The game cards may alternatively include generally noun-based phrases, e.g., shoulder blades.
The nouns or noun-based phrases imprinted on the game cards may be comprised of any noun in the English language. In other exemplary embodiments (not shown) the nouns may be selected from other non-English languages to facilitate game play in any language in which game players wish to play the game.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, card game 10 is also provided with a multifaceted die 50. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, die 50 comprises twenty separate sides, side 51 a through 51 e being shown in FIG. 1. It will be appreciated that a die having more or less sides than the twenty shown of die 50 may be substituted in the game that is described herein. Each of the separate sides of die 50 is imprinted with a single character. The imprinted character may be a letter or a figure or be imprinted with a character or word indicative of any or all letter characters, defined herein as the “Wild” side. If the “Wild” side appears, the players or the judge as indicated below, may choose any word for game play and are not limited by the single letter as it appears on other faces of the die 50. In the embodiment shown, only one side is imprinted with a character or word indicative of the “Wild” side. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, additional sides may be imprinted with a character that signifies a “Wild” side or, alternatively, one or more sides of the die 50 may be imprinted with multiple letters to choose from for game play.
In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, players use their winning “red apple” game cards from the deck of game cards 30 to signify a winning point, as will be described hereinafter. In another non-limiting embodiment, card game 10 is provided with approximately twenty-one green apple chips 55. Green apple chips 55 are awarded to the game player who has the winning card. In yet another non-limiting alternative embodiment, players use alternative methods of keeping score of the card game 10, such as using a recording device such as a scoring sheet, a tally sheet, a mechanical counter device, an electronic counter device. In yet another nonlimiting embodiment, a card having the pre-selected adjective printed thereon is awarded to the player.
A Rule set is provided as part of the game 10 and, in one exemplary embodiment, appears as shown in Table 1.

	TABLE 1

	Deal a plurality of cards to a plurality of players
	Select a Judge from the plurality of players
	The Judge rolls a multifaceted die having a plurality of letters
	imprinted thereon
	The Judge identifies an adjective that begins with one of said
	plurality of letters on an upturned face of said multifaceted die
	The other players choose and play one card that closely
	complements or matches the identified adjective
	The Judge determines from the cards played a single
	card that most closely represents the identified adjective
	The Judge awards a point to one of the plurality of players
	that played the single card
	The other players draw a new card to replace the played card
	Select a new Judge and Repeat play until one player obtains
	a predetermined number of points

In an exemplary embodiment, and in accordance with FIG. 2, the card game 10 is played as described hereinbelow. Between three and five game players are assembled. One of the game players is selected as the initial dealer and judge. The judge then deals five game cards 30 to each of the game players including himself or herself. The remaining cards are then placed on first portion 21 of top panel 20 to become the first set of game cards 31.
The judge then rolls the die 50 (i.e. “Judge Die”) in third tray portion 25 so that a single letter appears on the uppermost portion of the sides 51 when the die stops rolling. The judge then selects an adjective that begins with the letter shown. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, if the letter “B” appears on the uppermost side 51 of die 50, then the judge may choose any adjective beginning with “B”. In the example shown, the judge has selected the word “Beautiful” as the adjective. Once the word is verbally announced by the judge, the other game players review the five game cards 30 in their own hand that each contain a separate noun. Each of the other game players select one of the five game cards in their hand that they have selected because they feel the noun thereon best complements or matches the adjective announced. The selected card is placed face down, i.e. the first side is up, in a front of the judge. The judge picks up the cards and shuffles them to insure that he or she does not know the identity of the game player who discarded that game card.
The judge then reviews each of the game cards 30 in his or her hand and selects that card which he or she feels best matches the adjective selected. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the three remaining game players selected cards with the nouns “shoulder blades”, “bacon” and “parapet”. The judge selected the card with the word “parapet”. The game player who submitted the card containing the word “parapet” is awarded one point. The used game cards are placed on second portion 22 of top panel 20, to form second set of game cards 32, in order that they do not get used again in the game. The winning game card is retained by the player awarded one point, to signify the one point. Each player, except the judge, then draws a new game card 30 from the first set of game cards 31 sitting on first portion 21 of top panel 20.
In another exemplary embodiment, the winning point may be signified by awarding a green apple chip, as described above. In other embodiments, the players may keep score with a simple tally sheet or any other known means of keeping score, including but not limited to a chip member, a scoring sheet, a mechanical counter device, and an electronic counter device. The first player to obtain five points, or five winning “red apple” game cards 60, wins the game.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, an alternative game 110 is shown in FIG. 3. A non-limiting embodiment showing a method of play 200, of game 110, is described in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 3, the set of game cards 30 is replaced by a set of red apple dice 130. In the exemplary embodiment shown, dice 130 are comprised of single die 133, 134, and 135. In the exemplary embodiment shown, multifaceted die 50, as described hereinabove, is used in game 110 by the judge. Red apple dice 130 (i.e. “Player Dice”) are used by the players. It will be appreciated, however, that each player and the judge may be given an identical die in an alternative embodiment of the game 110. In a manner similar to multifaceted die 50, each red apple die 130 comprises twenty separate sides, sides 131 a through 131 e being shown in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated that a die having more or less sides than the twenty shown of die 130 may be substituted in the game that is described herein. In some embodiments the red apple dice 130 each include six sides.
Each of the separate sides of die 130 is imprinted with a single character. The imprinted character may be a letter or a figure or be imprinted with a character or word indicative of any or all letter characters, defined herein as the “Wild” side. If the “Wild” side appears, the players or the judge, as indicated below, may choose any word for game play and are not limited by the single letter as it appears on other faces of the die 130. In the embodiment shown, only one side is imprinted with a character or word indicative of the “Wild” side. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, additional sides may be imprinted with a character that signifies a “Wild” side or, alternatively, one or more sides of the die 130 may be imprinted with multiple letters to choose from for game play.
It will be appreciated that in one non-limiting embodiment of the game 110, only one face of the multifaceted dice 50 or 130 has a letter character indicative of all letter characters. It will further be appreciated that in another non-limiting embodiment of game 110, at least one of the die 134 has a first number of faces and at least one other of the die 135 has a second number of faces that is different than the first number of faces. For instance, one player may only be playing with a six sided die, while other players have a twenty sided die. In another embodiment, one or more of the die may be provided with more commonly used letters, or less commonly used letters, or all vowels, etc.
One non-limiting example of the characters found on each of a plurality of dice is illustrated in FIG. 3A.
In another embodiment the 20 sided dice may have the following characters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, U, W, Apple. Of course, numerous other configurations are contemplated to be within the scope of exemplary embodiments of the invention.
A Rule set is provided as part of the game 110 and, in one exemplary embodiment, appears as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2

Provide one die each to a plurality of players.
Select a Judge from the plurality of players and provide the Judge with
a green multifaceted die.
The Judge rolls the green die having a plurality of letters imprinted
thereon.
The Judge identifies an adjective that begins with one of the plurality of
letters on an upturned face of said multifaceted die.
The Judge then rolls a number of red multifaceted die equal to the
number of players.
The remaining players then grab a die and choose a selected word that
begins with one of the plurality of letters on the upturned face of their
red die.
The Judge determines from the selected words a single selected word that
most closely represents the identified adjective.
The Judge awards a point to the player whose word was selected.
The green die is passed to the winner of the previous round. The new
Judge rolls again and play is repeated until one player obtains a
predetermined number of points.

In an exemplary embodiment, and in accordance with FIG. 3, the game 110 is played as described herein below. Between three and five game players are assembled. One of the game players is selected as the initial judge and provided with a green apple die 50. The judge then provides a red apple die 130 to each of the game players.
The judge then rolls the green apple die 50 so that a single letter appears on the uppermost portion of the sides 51 when the die stops rolling. The judge then selects an adjective that begins with the letter shown. For example, if the letter “C” appears on the uppermost side 51 of die 50, then the judge may choose any adjective beginning with “C”. Once the word is verbally announced by the judge, the judge then rolls a number of red apple dice 130 equal to the amount of remaining players, so that a single letter appears on the uppermost portion of the sides 131 when each die stops rolling. Each of the other game players then grab, or choose, a red apple die 130 simultaneously or shortly thereafter. The players with the red apple dice 130 choose, or shout out, a noun that has a first letter matching or corresponding to the character appearing on the uppermost face of the red die that they have grabbed or chosen (i.e. “the selected word”). The selected noun may be the one that the player believes best complements or matches the adjective announced.
The judge then reviews each of the selected words and determines a single selected word that, in his or her opinion best matches the adjective announced. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the single selected word determined by the judge as best complementing the adjective announced corresponded to a character appearing on die 133. The player who rolled die 133 is awarded one point. Points can be scored by a simple tally sheet 140 or by the green apple chips 55 shown in FIG. 1.
The green apple die 51 may then be passed to the player awarded one point in the previous round, who becomes the judge. Alternatively, a player next to the judge becomes the next judge. Play continues in the above described manner until one player is awarded five points 140 and is declared the winner.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention, including for example those disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,308. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A game comprising:

a plurality of player dice, each of the plurality of player dice having a plurality of faces;

at least one judge die having a plurality of faces;

each of said multifaceted player dice having a plurality of characters on the faces of each said plurality of player dice;

each of said at least one judge die having a plurality of characters on the faces of each said at least one judge dice;

a scoring device; and

a rule set that includes a plurality of rules, wherein one of the rules of the plurality of rules provides that a player identify a selected word that corresponds to said at least one character appearing on said uppermost face of one of said plurality of player dice, said selected word corresponding to a pre-selected adjective, said rule providing an indication of a point to the player with said scoring device when said selected word corresponds to said pre-selected adjective.

2. The game of claim 1, wherein said judge die includes at least twenty faces.

3. The game of claim 1, wherein at least one face of each of said plurality of player dice includes a letter character indicative of all letter characters.

4. The game of claim 3, wherein only one face of each of said plurality of player die includes a letter character indicative of all letter characters.

5. The game of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of player dice has a first number of faces and at least one other of said plurality of player dice has a second number of faces.

6. The game of claim 1 wherein said scoring device is selected from a group comprising: a chip member, a scoring sheet, a mechanical counter device, an electronic counter device, and a card having said pre-selected adjective printed thereon.

7. A method of playing a game comprising:

a) providing a plurality of player dice, each of said player dice having a plurality of faces, each of said plurality of faces imprinted with at least one character;

b) providing at least one judge die having a plurality of faces with characters on each said plurality of faces;

c) rolling said at least one judge dice so that at least one character appears on an uppermost face of said at least one judge die;

d) announcing a word corresponding to said at least one character appearing on said uppermost face of one of said at least one judge die;

e) rolling said plurality of player dice;

f) choosing a plurality of selected words that correspond to said at least one character appearing on said uppermost face of each of said plurality of player dice, respectively;

g) determining a first word from one of said selected words based on said announced word;

h) providing a point based upon said first word; and

repeating steps “c” through “h” until a pre-selected number of points is awarded.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting a judge to perform said step of determining said first word.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising appointing said judge to perform said step of announcing a word corresponding to said at least one character on said uppermost face of said at least one judge die.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising excluding said judge from said step of choosing a selected word.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising excluding said judge from said step of choosing a selected word.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

providing a recording apparatus; and

recording a point to a player that selected said first word.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said recording apparatus is selected from a group comprising: a chip member, a scoring sheet, a mechanical counter device, an electronic counter device, and a card having said pre-selected adjective printed thereon.

14. A method of playing a game comprising:

providing a plurality of player dice having a plurality of letters imprinted on said faces to a plurality of players;

providing a judge die having a plurality of faces with a character imprinted on each of said plurality of faces;

rolling said judge die having a plurality of letters imprinted on said faces;

identifying an adjective that begins with one of said plurality of letters on an upturned face of said judge die;

choosing a plurality of selected words that correspond to said at least one letter appearing on said uppermost face of said judge die;

determining a first word from said selected words, wherein said first word closely represents said identified adjective;

awarding a point to one of said plurality of players that chose said first word.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising selecting a judge from said plurality of players.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of identifying said adjective includes said judge identifying said adjective that begins with one of said plurality of letters on an upturned face of said judge die.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of determining said first word includes said judge determining from said selected words said first word that closely represents said identified adjective.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

providing a recording apparatus;

recording said point with said recording apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said recording apparatus is selected from a group comprising: a chip member, a scoring sheet, a mechanical counter device, an electronic counter device, and a card having said pre-selected adjective printed thereon.