WO1996024415A1

WO1996024415A1 - Apparatus for a sentence game

Info

Publication number: WO1996024415A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1995/000010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alistair Graeme Hicks
Original assignee: Alistair Graeme Hicks
Priority date: 1995-02-07
Filing date: 1995-02-07
Publication date: 1996-08-15
Also published as: AU1547595A

Abstract

Apparatus for the play of a game. A plurality of tokens, cards or the like are provided and on which at least one word or part of a word is indicated. A playing sheet or board (10) is provided for the or each player. The playing sheet or board (10) has a working area (11) formed by a plurality of squares (14). During playing of the game a sentence or sentences can be created using words or parts of words chosen by random selection of the cards, tokens or the like. There is also included on the playing sheet or board (10) a save area (12) in which words or parts of words can be saved for future use. The playing sheet or board (10) can also include a discard area for words or parts of words to be discarded.

Description

APPARATUSFORASENTENCEGAME

This invention relates to apparatus for a game.

5 The game apparatus to which this invention applies is used in a word game having as its objective the creation of sentences within certain constraints as dictated by the apparatus. The game can be played by one or more players with the aim being to create the sentences in an optimum manner in order to 10 maximise the awarding of points.

The object of the invention is to provide game apparatus which enables a game to be played which achieves the above mentioned objective.

15

Broadly the invention consists of apparatus for a game the apparatus comprising a plurality of tokens, cards or the like on which at least one word or part of a word is indicated, and a playing sheet, board or the like for the or each player 0 said sheet, board or the like including a working area in which a sentence or sentences can be created using words or parts of words chosen by random selection of said cards, tokens and the like and a save area in which words can be saved for future use.

25

In the preferred form of the invention the sheet, board or the like further includes a discard area for said words or parts of words to be discarded.

.υ Preferably the sheet, board or the like has each area defined by a grid like pattern of conjoined boxes, sguares or other shaped areas. In one form of the invention the working, save and discard areas are separated by adjustable boundary lines, markings or the like so that the areas can be adjusted in

"5 size and/or configuration. According to one preferred form of the invention the sheet, board or the like is such that words are entered into individual areas by being physically written therein. In an alternative form, however, cards, tokens or the like can be positioned in or on the individual areas of the sheet, board or the like.

In the following more detailed description of the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is an illustration of the surface of the sheet, board or the like according to one form of the invention, Figure 2 is an illustration of the surface of the sheet, board or the like according to a second form of the invention, and

Figure 3 is an illustration of the surface of a master sheet, board or the like which according to one form of the invention is part of the game apparatus.

Furthermore in the following description the game to be played using the apparatus is described as one in which a plurality of "rounds" are played to complete the overall game.

The game apparatus includes a plurality of tokens, cards oi the like on which a word or part of a word is indicated. In a preferred form of the invention a plurality of cards (eg 380 cards some of which are duplicates of words or parts of words on others of the cards) are provided. During any one "round" of a game only a proportion (eg 30) of these cards will be randomly selected. The cards can be held in a container such as a bag or can be shuffled and formed face down into a single pile.

During a round of the game a player (so called "Leader" will successively take a card from the bag, pile or the like and call out the word or part word written thereon. A card is selected at regular intervals and to this end the game apparatus may include timing apparatus (which can be of an adjustable or set time period) which indicates the delay 5 between the selection of a card after the preceding card. Preferably the Leader notes the word or part of word on a master board, sheet or the like.

In the preferred form of the invention a complete word appears on each card. The word will be a root word so that the player may add any prefix or suffix provided the basic meaning of the word is not changed. For example, the word act can become action, the word state can become stated, the word create can become creative, the word done can become 15 undone etc.

Furthermore a quantity of so called "wild" cards can be included. A wild card may, for example, give simply a prefix, suffix or the first letter of a word or may give only

20 an indication of subject matter (eg home, leisure, work, etc) . Further the wild cards may include ones which determine the number and length of sentence(s) to be formed, or the "specification" of one or more sentences to be formed by the player, eg two sentences each of four words; one

25 sentence of five words, etc.

Each player, which may or may not include the Leader (as described above), is provided with a sheet, board or the like. For ease of description this will be henceforth ?υ referred to as the "playing board".

The playing board can be of a configuration as depicted in either of Figures 1 or 2 of the drawings. With the arrangement of Figure 1 the playing board 10 is divided into :5 a working area 11, a save and use area or "holding" area 12 and a dead or discard area 13. Each of areas 11, 12 and 13 is divided into individual areas or elements 14 with the result that each area 11, 12 and 13 is effectively a grid like pattern of conjoined squares 14.

As illustrated in Figure 1 the playing board 10 is preferably 5 divided into the aforementioned areas by boundary lines 15 and 16 and in one form of the invention these boundary lines 15 and 16 can be movable so as to increase/decrease the size and/or configuration of the respective areas 11, 12 and 13.

10 As each word is called out the player must decide whether to enter the word into the working area 11, the holding area 12 or the discard area 13. Once a word has been entered into the discard area 13 it cannot be further used in the round. Thus the game includes those tactical elements which are so

15 important to a stimulating game as a player must make an early decision to either discard the word or place it in the working area 11 or in the holding area 12.

At any time during the round the player may move words around 0 in the working area 11 to create a sentence or sentences.

The holding area 12 allows the player to put a newly called word into this area before deciding whether to enter it into the working area 11 or discard it to the discard area 13. 25 Once a word has been moved from the holding area 12 to either of the other areas it cannot be moved back into holding area 12.

The discard area 13 is used to discard any words not required :υ and once a word is entered into the discard area it may not be moved back into either of the other two areas 11 and 12.

At the commencement of a round five starter words (selected from the plurality of words) can be given and thereafter .5 cards will be selected at random at regular intervals, say ten seconds. Alternatively the game can be simply commenced by selecting a first card followed by random selection of cards at intervals. The round will continue until the predetermined number of cards (say thirty cards) have been drawn.

5 Variations are possible such that after the first ten words, for example, a thirty second break can occur and this will be repeated after twenty words. After the total number of words have been given out a further period of say forty-five - sixty seconds can be given before the round is considered to

10 be over.

At the completion of a round points are awarded according to the sentences which an individual player has created in his or her working area 11. For example, a three word sentence 15 can score one point, a four word sentence two points with subsequent words in the sentence scoring two points per word. However, for sentences over thirteen words each additional word may score five points.

0 A Wide variety of scoring systems can be employed. For example, points can be deducted in respect of incomplete sentences, unused words, etc. Thus in the event that an isolated word exists in the working frame at the completion of the round a penalty of two points per isolated word can be

25 applied.

Prior to commencement the number of rounds in a game or a maximum number of points to be attained can be determined by the players. Thus the winner can either be the first to "0 reach 500, 100 or 200 points or the person with the most points after three, four, five rounds etc.

The apparatus by which the game can be played can be varied within the scope of the invention. For example, a further "5 piece of apparatus which determines the boundaries between the individual areas 11, 12 and 13 can be used to overlay a grid like sheet of paper. Various overlays could be used to alter the size and configuration of the areas dependant on the degree of difficulty to be applied to the game.

Also the game apparatus can, as previously disclosed, include a master grid or the like on which the person selecting and calling the words can place the selected cards. In this way the words appearing in the individual playing boards can be compared against the master list at the conclusion of each round of the game.

10

In a more complex arrangement each individual player may be provided with cards, discs or tokens which are coded say by numbers. Thus the card selected can be marked with both the code and the word so that the player calling out the word can 5 also give the code whereupon the individual players can select the required card, token, disc or the like and place it on his or her playing board. In this manner the need to write, erase, cross out etc on the actual playing board can be obviated. 0

While it is envisaged that the playing board will consist of a sheet of paper which can be disposed of at the end of the round of the game (each player having a pad of playing sheets) the playing board can equally be manufactured with a 5 surface on which the word can be written and easily erased, eg. a surface similar to the well known "white board" or a marked sheet which is laminated with a suitable wear resistant plastics material.

^'•υ Figure 2 of the drawings shows a further form of the playing board 10. According to this arrangement areas 11, 12 and 13 are formed separately while an area 17 is provided for the player to write his/her sentence(s) at the completion of the round. Also included are the following additional areas:-

."5 Area 18 in which "free words" such as definite articles are indicated. Area 19 provides a grid in which point calculations can be carried out at the completion of a round. Areas 20 enable the player to indicate that a prefix or suffix card has been drawn whereupon at the completion of the round and formation of the sentence(s) the player can indicate in the appropriate square the prefix and/or suffix chosen.

Area 21 is used when an instruction card is drawn by the Leader. The player indicates in one square the subject of the instruction card while in the other square the player indicates the particular topic which the player has chosen. For example, if the subject is, say, leisure the topic can be, say, gardening. Area 22 is used when an instruction card is drawn which indicates the length of sentence(s) to be created by the player at the end of the round.

According to Figure 3 there is shown a board which can be used by the Leader. This board includes a grid 23 in which the Leader indicates in sequence the words which have been drawn. The board also includes areas corresponding to areas 18-22 of the playing board 10. Area 21, however, only provides space for the actual subject on the subject instruction card to be entered.

During playing of the game the Leader may draw cards which are to be discarded. These cards can, for example, be a further subject instruction or sentence instruction card or indeed further prefix and suffix cards. The fact that these cards have been drawn and discarded is noted in the discard area 24.

The cards can be colour coded so as to indicate a particular part of speech. Cross-coding (ie multiplicity of coloured areas) can be used if the word on the card is able to be a noun, verb or adjective, etc. The game apparatus according to the present invention enables word games to be played with the objective being to create one or more sentences of optimum length during a playing period. The game is fast moving in that the players are involved simultaneously and the elements of concentration, tactics and the like form an essential part of the game.

The game apparatus according to the present invention can also be used for all age groups. However, it is envisaged that simplified rules will be used for younger or inexperienced players. For example, for such category of players the prefix, suffix and instruction cards can be omitted. Also the grammatical correctness of the sentence(s) formed by the player can be less critical than when the game is played by more experienced or older players.

Claims

1. Apparatus for a game, the apparatus comprising a 5 plurality of tokens, cards or the like on which at least one word or part of a word is indicated, and a playing sheet, board or the like (10) for the or each player, said sheet, board or the like including a working area (11) in which a sentence or sentences can be created using words or parts of 10 words chosen by random selection of said cards, tokens or the like and a save area (12) in which words can be saved for future use.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said sheet, 15 board or the like (10) further includes a discard area (13) for said words or parts of words to be discarded.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the sheet, board or the like (10) has each area defined by a grid like

20 pattern of conjoined boxes, squares or other shaped areas (14).

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3 wherein the working, save and discard areas (11, 12 and 13) are

25 separated by adjustable boundary lines, markings or the like (15 or 16) so that the areas (11, 12 and 13) can be adjusted in size and/or configuration.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims :u wherein the sheet, board or the like (10) is of such construction and so configured that the words or parts of words can be physically written into the individual areas (11, 12 and 13).

5 6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4 wherein the sheet, board or the like (10) is of such construction and so configured that the cards, tokens or the like can be positioned in or on the individual areas (11, 12 and 13).

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 5 wherein some of the tokens, cards or the like specify a sentence subject.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein some of the tokens, cards or the like specify the lυ choice by the player of a prefix and/or suffix.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein some of the tokens, cards or the like specify the length of sentence(s) to be formed using said words or parts

15 of words.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims further including a master sheet, board or the like (10a) for recording information contained on the tokens, cards or the

20 like drawn during a game.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 1-9 further including a master sheet, board or the like (10a) for the placement thereon or therein of the tokens, cards or

25 the like drawn during a game.

12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1-9 wherein the sheet, board or the like (10) further includes an area (17) in which one or more completed sentences can be compiled by the

:o player.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-9 and 12 wherein the sheet, board or the like (10) further includes an area (19) in which the scoring of points can be calculated.

^"5

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-9, 12 and 13 wherein the sheet, board or the like (10) further includes areas (20, 21 and 22) in which information relating to the length of sentence(s) to be created, prefix and suffix options and subject/topic of sentence(s) to be created can appear.