WO2003039696A1

WO2003039696A1 - Dice game

Info

Publication number: WO2003039696A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/035103
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Yu; Jonathan Bedford
Original assignee: Mattel, Inc.
Priority date: 2001-11-02
Filing date: 2002-10-31
Publication date: 2003-05-15
Also published as: CN101421011A; MXPA04004159A; US20030085515A1; US6729619B2; EP1450919A4; CA2465508A1; EP1450919A1

Abstract

A dice game including dice (10), chips (12), predictive markers (14), and methods of play. The goal of the game is to be the first person to obtain all the chips from the other players (102, 104, 106, 108). Chips are used for wagering on the outcome of dice rolls. The game may optionally employ predictive markers to facilitate predictions for the outcome of the dice roll.

Description

DICE GAME

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.

Provisional Patent Application No. 60/350,144 entitled "Dice Game," filed

November 2, 2001, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Dice games for multiple players have been in use for many years and are

well known in the art of gaming. Dice games are commonly used in both gambling

and non-gambling gaming applications. Gambling versions of dice games commonly

incorporate one of two types of gaming competition and, consequently, of betting

arrangement. Players may either compete individually against a house or against

other players. Accordingly, the dividend of a player's wager, when successful, is

typically either backed by a house or by a collective pot of players' money. In either

arrangement, gambling dice games often revolve around predictive guessing, such as

betting on the value of the next roll in Craps.

[0003] In contrast, non-gambling dice games often incorporate point-based or

goal-oriented competition. In point-based games, the object is typically to possess

either the greatest or the least number of points at the end of the game. In goal-

oriented games, a player may win by accomplishing some dice-related task, such as

rolling a particular consecutive series of dice combinations. Additionally, it is not

uncommon for dice games to use combinations of both styles of competition, such as

those which reward points for the accomplishment of particular goals. However, non- gambling game play tends to be reactionary, based on the chanced roll of never-

changing dice combinations, rather than incorporating the ever-changing predictive

element common to many gambling games.

[0004] A major source of attraction for gambling dice games often lies in their

ability to create a thrilling atmosphere of suspense due to the risks and potential

rewards inherent in play. Gambling games typically use either currency or chips

during play to reflect players' wagers because the clear representation of their possible

gains and losses can heighten the intensity of the gaming experience. Such an

atmosphere can be created for groups of players by pool-style gambling where each

player's bet is combined in a collective pot, which, in turn, is awarded to the winner.

In this respect, non-gambling dice games are commonly inferior to their gambling

counterparts. Merely tallying points or completing ordered tasks is often not as

effective in inducing the degree of excitement common to wager-style play.

[0005] However, whereas gambling dice games may commonly be restricted to

inconveniently located gaming establishments, non-gambling dice games may often

be played just about anywhere by just about anyone. Non-gambling dice games can

provide gaming enjoyment among groups of players for whom participation in

gambling may not be desirable, appropriate, or legal. Consequently, non-gambling

dice games may be ideal for many groups of players, such as those who wish to

compete in table games in a casual household setting.

[0006] As a result, there is need in the art for the development of non-gambling

dice games for multiple players that are capable of incorporating the varied benefits of traditional gambling and non-gambling gaming applications. For this reason, the

development of dice games for multiple players that combine the suspense of pot-style

wagering, the variety of predictive guessing, and the convenience of family-style

gaming in a single non-gambling embodiment would be very beneficial to the art of

gaming.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention provides methods and components of a dice game.

The object of the game is for players to obtain all of their opponents chips by

predicting the results of a roll of at least one die.

[0008] The advantages of the present invention will be understood more readily

after a consideration of the drawings and the Detailed Description of the Preferred

Embodiment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] Fig. 1 depicts layout of players and components of a dice game, including

dice, chips, and predictive markers.

[0010] Fig. 2 wagering of players using chips.

[0011] Fig. 3 shows details of a die, including colored character indicia and wild

indicia use to distinguish each pattern.

[0012] Fig. 4 depicts the awarding of a pot of chips to a player correctly

predicting an outcome of a dice roll. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0013] The dice game is suitable for a plurality of players 100. In the example

shown in Fig. 1, four players 100 are shown, including a player A 102, a player B, a

player C, and a player D 108.

[0014] The components of the dice game include multiple dice 10, chips 12, and

predictive markers 14, as shown in Figure 1. Dice 10 are imprinted with non-

numerical indicia 16 on at least one of the several sides 18 of each die 10. The

particular dice roll combination of indicia 20 is used to determine play progression.

[0015] Chips 12 are used to place a players' 100 wager into a pot 22, as shown in

Fig. 2. In one embodiment of the game, the chips are in the shape of gemstones 24.

Predictive markers 14 are typically two-sided and may be in the shape of stars 26.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 3, dice patterns 28 typically are subdivided into at least a

first pattern 30 and a second pattern 32, and usually up to five patterns, with one side

18 remaining blank. These patterns 28 may further include colored character indicia

34, as shown in Fig. 3 by a depiction of a dragon from Yu-Gi-Oh by Kazuki

Takahashi, and wild indicia 36. Each of the wild indicia 36 is distinct from one

another and may be found on only one of the dice 10.

[0017] Chips 12 are divided equally among players 100. Players 100 then ante at

least one chip 12 into pot 22. A first player, player A 102 in this example, then selects

a roll combination that he or she wants to predict will be the result of the roll of dice 10. The first player 102 then rolls dice 10. If player 102 correctly predicted outcome

38 of dice 10, as shown in Fig. 4, then player 102 wins pot 22. If outcome 38 was not

correctly predicted by first player 102, then the next player, player B 104 in this

example, takes a turn to predict outcome 38 and re-rolls dice 10. In one embodiment

of the dice game, predictive markers 14 are used to record a player's predicted

outcome 38. the prediction may be recorded by setting forth predictive markers 14

that bear indicia 34 corresponding to that on the dice 10.

[0018] In one embodiment of the game, each player 100 may predict outcome 38

of a roll of dice 10 as long as each player 100 selects an outcome 38 different from

that selected by other players 100. That way, play will progress more quickly as the

odds of a player 100 winning pot 22 increases. If no player 100 correctly predicts the

dice roll outcome 38, then players 100 ante additional chips 12 into pot 22 and play

proceeds.

[0019] If, at any time during play, pattern 30 is rolled such that wild indicia 36 is

revealed, pot 22 automatically is awarded to a particular player 100 based on a

predetermined meaning of each of the distinct wild indicia 36. For example, rolling of

a particular wild indicia 36 may indicate that pot 22 is awarded to player 100 to the

left of first player 102.

[0020] Play continues until one of players 100 has won all chips 12 from the

other players 100. [0021] It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple

distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been

disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and

illustrated herein are not to be considered in a lhniting sense as numerous variations

are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious

combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or

properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where any claim recites "a" or "a first" element

or the equivalent thereof, such claim should be understood to include incorporation of

one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such

elements.

[0022] Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations of

features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through presentation

of new claims in a related application. Such new claims, whether they are directed to

a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader,

narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within

the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A dice game for multiple players, comprising:

multiple dice, wherein each die includes non-numerical indicia on several of its sides,

not all of the non-numerical indicia included on several sides of each die

are all identical to those included on the sides of every other die, and at

least one of the several sides of each of the multiple dice is blank, being

void of non-numerical indicia; and

chips, wherein the chips are anted into a pot that is won by a player as determined by a

particular dice roll combination.

2. A dice game for multiple players in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the number of the multiple dice is two.

3. A dice game for multiple players in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the at least two patterns of the non-numerical indicia are depicted by colored

character indicia.

4. A dice game for multiple players in accordance with claim 3,

wherein the colored character indicia depict characters based on a cultural

phenomenon, such as a popular children's comic book or cartoon.

5. A dice game for multiple players in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the non-numerical indicia included on several sides of each die further comprise at least two distinct wild indicia, each of the wild indicia uniquely

referencing a single player.

6. A dice game for multiple players in accordance with claim 5,

wherein each of the distinct wild indicia is located on one or more sides of only one of

the multiple dice.

7. A dice game for multiple players in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the chips are shaped as gemstones.

8. A dice game for multiple players, comprising:

at least one die, wherein each die includes non-numerical indicia on several of its

sides; and

predictive markers, wherein the predictive markers include non-numerical indicia that

correspond to the non-numerical indicia on the at least one die and the

predictive markers are two-sided having different non-numerical indicia

or colors on either side.

9. A dice game for multiple players in accordance with claim 8,

wherein the predictive markers are shaped as stars.

10. A method of playing a dice game by multiple players, comprising

the steps of: providing multiple dice, wherein each die includes non-numerical indicia on several of

its sides, and chips;

receiving of an equal number of chips for wagering;

anteing at least one of the chips into a pot to enter a round of play;

predicting the outcome of a dice roll combination of indicia by a first player;

rolling the multiple dice by the first player;

awarding of the chips anted into the pot to the first player if the resulting dice roll

combination of indicia matches the first player's prediction;

repeating the prediction and rolling steps, if the resulting dice roll combination of

indicia does not match the first player's prediction, each other player

having a turn to predict the combination of indicia and roll the multiple

dice until the pot is awarded to one of the players or until all of the

players have rolled the multiple dice;

re-anteing an additional chip into the pot and repeating the prediction and rolling

steps, if all of the players have rolled the multiple dice without the pot

having been awarded to a player;

eliminating from further play players having no remaining chips;

wagering and predicting steps being started over if the pot has been awarded to a

player, the status of being the first player and the subsequent order of

play rotating among the multiple players, until each player but one has

been eliminated from further play by the loss of his or her chips;

awarding the pot to a single player if the resulting dice roll combination of indicia

includes a single wild indicia uniquely referencing that player; and determining a winner by who is in possession of chips after each other player has been

eliminated.

11. A method of playing a dice game by multiple players in

accordance with claim 10, comprising the additional steps of:

predicting of a different outcome of the same dice roll combination of indicia by each

other player, after the first player predicts the outcome of a dice roll

combination of indicia;

awarding the chips anted into the pot to a player, if the resulting dice roll combination

of indicia matches that player's prediction; and

adding of additional chips to the pot and repeating of the prediction and rolling steps if

the resulting dice roll combination of indicia does not match any of the

player's predictions and cause the pot to be awarded to any player.

12. A method of playing a dice game by multiple players in

accordance with claim 10, comprising the additional steps of:

providing each player with at least one predictive marker that selectively references

the indicia included on the multiple dice;

using the predictive markers of each player to indicate his or her prediction of the

outcome of the dice roll combination of indicia.