Mechanical and electronic combinatory game and puzzle
First Claim
1. A method of playing a combinatory game using a game-set selected from the group consisting of a material said game-set and computer generated graphics representing said game-set, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first predetermined number of equal game-items having a cube-like shape;
providing a collection of face-patterns;
reproducing said face-patterns on the faces of said game-items;
arranging said game-items as an overall parallelepiped game-structure comprising crossing rows of aligned said game-items including zero to a second predetermined number of empty-places equal each to the cubic volume occupied by one said game-item;
performing sequences of spinning comprising each;
selecting a spinning group of said game-items in one of said crossing rows, spinning said spinning group around its longitudinal axis by 90 degrees and restoring the initial shape of said game-structure; and
aiming to obtain predetermined face-pattern combinations;
whereby the location and orientation of a plurality of said face-patterns change simultaneously after each said sequence of spinning, so that an elaborate strategy is necessary to reach predetermined said face-pattern combinations, as a purpose of puzzles and games based on said method.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanical and electronic combinatory game and puzzle includes a plurality of cubic game items (2) bearing patterns on the faces, arranged in crossing rows in an overall parallelepiped game structure (1). Pre-designed or new face pattern combinations are to be obtained through sequences of group spinning. Variants of the game may include spinning partial or entire rows (4), as well as translations of game items if the game structure (1) contains empty places. The mechanical embodiment provides an overall parallelepiped game structure (1), an expandable enclosure (7) and handling devices (15). The electronic embodiment provides computer representation (40), control and management of the play.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of playing a combinatory game using a game-set selected from the group consisting of a material said game-set and computer generated graphics representing said game-set, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first predetermined number of equal game-items having a cube-like shape;
providing a collection of face-patterns;
reproducing said face-patterns on the faces of said game-items;
arranging said game-items as an overall parallelepiped game-structure comprising crossing rows of aligned said game-items including zero to a second predetermined number of empty-places equal each to the cubic volume occupied by one said game-item;
performing sequences of spinning comprising each;
selecting a spinning group of said game-items in one of said crossing rows, spinning said spinning group around its longitudinal axis by 90 degrees and restoring the initial shape of said game-structure; and
aiming to obtain predetermined face-pattern combinations;
whereby the location and orientation of a plurality of said face-patterns change simultaneously after each said sequence of spinning, so that an elaborate strategy is necessary to reach predetermined said face-pattern combinations, as a purpose of puzzles and games based on said method. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A game-device for playing a combinatory game comprising:
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a first predetermined number of equal game-items having a cube-like shape, arranged as an overall parallelepiped game-structure comprising crossing rows of aligned said game-items including zero to a second predetermined number of empty-places equal each to the cubic volume occupied by one said game-item;
a collection of face-patterns reproduced on the faces of said game-items;
a first means for holding together said game-items in said game-structure;
a second means for observing said face-patterns exposed on at least one external face of said game-structure;
a third means for accessing groups of said game-items in said crossing rows for handling; and
a fourth means for allowing said game-structure to expand within predetermined limits;
whereby a player can observe, select, access and spin a spinning group selected among said accessing groups around its longitudinal axis by 90 degrees, provoking an expansion of said game-structure that has to be followed by a recovering of its initial shape for allowing subsequent spins, using bare fingers or adequate tools of a known type for handling, whereby after each sequence of spinning, the location and orientation of a plurality of said face-patterns change simultaneously, so that an elaborate strategy is necessary to reach predetermined face-pattern combinations, as a purpose of said combinatory game, whereby if at least one said empty-place is included in said game-structure, a player can also translate into said empty-place a translating group selected among said accessing groups, formed of contiguous game-items in a row, adjacent at one end to said one empty-place, creating a new said empty-place behind said translating group, so that the translations can follow one another, and whereby the places of said game-items in said game-structure can be changed by sequences of translations, obtaining more variants of said combinatory game. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of generating an electronic combinatory game display in a computer system of a known type, and controlling the play of said combinatory game on the electronic display of said computer system in response to the player operation, comprising the steps of:
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storing a collection of digital images to be used as face-patterns;
storing individual properties of a first predetermined number of equal game-items representing each a material cube-like object having one said face-pattern on each face, wherein said specific properties comprise the position, orientation and appearance of each said face in relationship with the position and the orientation of another said face;
calculating and storing position parameters of said game-items arranging said game-items in crossing rows of aligned said game-items including zero to a second predetermined number of empty-places equal each to the cubic volume occupied by one said game-item;
generating images representing views of said game-items arranged as calculated in the preceding step on the display of said computer system; and
performing sequences of spinning on the display of said computer system, using computer means for controlling graphics and display, comprising each;
selecting a spinning group of said game-items in one of said crossing rows and generating graphics representing said game-items in said spinning group spinning simultaneously around said one row axis and reaching a new stable position at 90 degrees of spin angle;
whereby the visibility, location and orientation of a plurality of said face-patterns change simultaneously after each said sequence of spinning, revealing new face-pattern combinations. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification