Method and apparatus for a secret identity adventure game

• US 5,690,340 A
• Filed: 10/06/1995
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Musleh, Susan
• Original Assignee: Musleh, Susan
• Inventors: Musleh, Susan
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/540,194
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 273/459, 273/460, 206/223, 206/579, 206/232, 206/387
• US Class Current: 273/459
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00123 Board games concerning music
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00119 Board games concerning music, theatre, cinema, or art

Abstract

An adventure game including a first themed communication element having audible or visible indicia introducing an intermediary, identifying the intermediary as an author of said first themed communication element, identifying that the first themed communication element is directed to a target, and explaining that a person is interested in the target; a second themed communication element having audible or visible indicia identifying the intermediary as an author of the second themed communication element, identifying the target as the recipient of the second element, and expressing additional information concerning at least one of the person, the intent of the person, and what is expected of the target; a third communication element directed to the target and including audible or visible indicia inviting the target to be at a certain place at a certain time; an instruction guide including audible or visible indicia instructing the person to send said first themed communication element to the target first, to send the second themed communication element to the target after the first themed communication element and to send the third communication element to the target after the second themed communication element; and wherein each of the communication elements is a part of pre-defined scenario having a particular theme with at least the first and second communication elements having additional audible or visible indicia consistent with the theme.

Claims

1. An adventure game, comprising:

a first themed communication element having audible or visible indicia introducing an intermediary, identifying the intermediary as an author of said first themed communication element, identifying that said first themed communication element is directed to a target, and explaining that a person is interested in the target;

a second themed communication element having audible or visible indicia identifying the intermediary as an author of said second themed communication element, identifying the target as the recipient of said second element, and expressing additional information concerning at least one of the person, the intent of the person, and what is expected of the target;

a third communication element directed to the target and including audible or visible indicia inviting the target to be at a certain place at a certain time;

an instruction guide including audible or visible indicia instructing the person to send said first themed communication element to the target first, to send said second themed communication element to the target after said first themed communication element and to send said third communication element to the target after said second themed communication element; and

,

wherein each of said communication elements is a part of a pre-defined scenario having a particular theme with at least said first and second communication elements having additional audible or visible indicia consistent with said theme.

2. The adventure game of claim 1 wherein said second themed communication element is an audio-cassette tape with audible indicia consistent with said theme.

3. The adventure game of claim 2 wherein the identity of the person is not revealed to the target in any of said communication elements.

4. The adventure game of claim 2 wherein the intermediary is a fictitious entity consistent with said theme.

5. The adventure game of claim 2 wherein said first themed communication element is a pre-printed letter on stationery bearing visible indicia consistent with said theme.

6. The adventure game of claim 5 further including additional stationery bearing visible indicia consistent with said theme, and wherein said instruction guide includes text instructing the person in the alternative to copy text of said first themed communication element onto said additional stationary and to deliver said additional stationary with the copied text to the target instead of said first themed communication element.

7. The adventure game of claim 6 further including a fourth themed communication element having text comprising a clue or referring to a clue as to the identity of the person, and wherein said instruction guide includes text directing the person to send said fourth communication element to the target after said second themed communication element.

8. The adventure game of claim 7 wherein said instruction guide includes text directing the person to provide a clue object and to send said fourth communication element and said clue object to the target after sending said second communication element.

9. The adventure game of claim 7 further including envelopes bearing visible indicia consistent with said theme.

10. The adventure game of claim 9 further including stickers for sealing said envelopes and bearing visible indicia consistent with said theme.

11. The adventure game of claim 7 wherein said third communication element is an invitation inviting the target to meet the person at a place and time.

12. The adventure game of claim 7 further including a hint guide including text providing the person with additional information concerning actions the person could take to enliven said correspondences and concerning the ultimate meeting with the target.

13. A method for playing an adventure game, comprising the steps of:

providing a kit including;

a first themed communication element having audible or visible indicia introducing an intermediary, identifying the intermediary as an author of said first themed communication element, identifying that said first themed communication element is directed to a target, and explaining that a person is interested in the target;

a second themed communication element having audible or visible indicia identifying the intermediary as an author of said second themed communication element, identifying the target as the recipient of said second element, and expressing additional information concerning at least one of the person, the intent of the person, and what is expected of the target;

a third communication element directed to the target and including audible or visible indicia inviting the target to be at a certain place at a certain time;

an instruction guide including audible or visible indicia instructing the person to send said first themed communication element to the target first, to send said second themed communication element to the target after said first themed communication element and to send said third communication element to the target after said second themed communication element;

wherein each of said communication elements is a part of a pre-defined scenario having a particular theme with at least said first and second communication elements having additional audible or visible indicia consistent with said theme;

delivering said first themed communication to the target;

delivering said second themed communication to the target after delivering said first themed communication;

delivering said third communication to the target after delivering said second themed communication; and

,

meeting the target at the place and time identified in said third communication.

14. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 13 wherein said providing step includes said second themed communication element being an audio-cassette tape having audible indicia consistent with said theme.

15. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 14 wherein said providing step includes the identity of the person not being revealed to the target in any of said communication elements.

16. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 14 wherein said providing step includes the intermediary being a fictitious entity consistent with said theme.

17. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 14 wherein said providing step includes said first themed communication element being a pre-printed letter on stationery bearing visible indicia consistent with said theme.

18. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 17 wherein said providing step includes said kit further including additional stationery bearing visible indicia consistent with said theme, and wherein said method further includes copying text of said first themed communication element onto said additional stationary and delivering said additional stationary with the copied text to the target instead of said first themed communication element.

19. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 17 wherein said providing step includes said kit further including a fourth communication element having text comprising a clue or referring to a clue as to the identity of the person, and wherein said method further includes delivering said fourth communication element to the target after said second themed communication element.

20. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 19 further including providing a clue object and delivering said clue object with said fourth communication element to the target after delivering said second communication element.

21. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 17 wherein said providing step includes said kit further including envelopes visible bearing indicia consistent with said theme.

22. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 21 wherein said providing step includes said kit further including stickers for sealing said envelopes and bearing visible indicia consistent with said theme.

23. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 17 wherein said providing step includes said kit further including a hint guide including text providing the person with additional information concerning actions the person could take to enliven said correspondences and concerning the ultimate meeting with the target.

24. The method for playing an adventure game of claim 14 wherein said providing step includes said third communication element being an invitation inviting the target to meet the person at a place and time.

25. An adventure game, comprising:

a first themed communication element having audible or visible indicia introducing an intermediary, identifying the intermediary as an author of said first themed communication element, identifying that said first themed communication element is directed to a target, and explaining that a person is interested in the target;

a second themed communication element having audible or visible indicia comprising a clue or referring to a clue as to the identity of the person;

a third communication element directed to the target and including audible or visible indicia inviting the target to be at a certain place at a certain time;

an instruction guide including audible or visible indicia instructing the person to send said first themed communication element to the target first, to send said second themed communication element to the target after said first themed communication element and to send said third communication element to the target after said second themed communication element; and

,

wherein each of said communication elements is a part of a pre-defined scenario having a particular theme with at least said first and second communication elements having additional audible or visible indicia consistent with said theme.

26. The adventure game of claim 25 wherein said instruction guide includes text directing the person to provide a clue object and to send said clue object to the target along with said second communication element.

27. The adventure game of claim 26 wherein said instruction guide includes text directing the person to provide more than one clue object and to send said clue objects separately to the target.

28. An adventure game, comprising:

a first themed communication element having audible indicia introducing an intermediary, identifying the intermediary as an author of said first themed communication element, identifying that first themed communication element is directed to a target, and explaining that a person is interested in a target;

a second themed communication element directed to the target and including audible or visible indicia inviting the target to be at a certain place at a certain time;

an instruction guide including audible or visible indicia instructing the person to send said first themed communication element to the target first and to send said second themed communication element to the target after said first themed communication element; and

wherein each of said communication elements is part of a pre-defined scenario having a particular theme with said first and second communication elements having additional audible or visible indicia consistent with said theme.

29. The adventure game of claim 28 wherein said first themed communication element is an audio-cassette tape.