METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A GAME

• US 20120129599A1
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mockingbird Game LLC
• Original Assignee: Mockingbird Game LLC
• Inventors: McGovern, John E. R., McGovern, Sarah B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00018 played along an endless track
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00126 using audio equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/186 Guessing games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/241 Touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00006 Board games played along a linear track, e.g. game of goose, snakes and ladders, along an endless track A63F3/00028 - A63F3/00157, A63F3/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081

Abstract

The present invention is a game of verbal charades. In one embodiment, the game is played using a game board, game pieces, a die, a timer, various sets of cards, and an electronic medium containing imitations of people. The game may be played with multiple teams or players or with one person. In another embodiment, the game is played on a portable media device. In another embodiment, the game board includes electronic features allowing the game to be played primarily using the game board. In another embodiment, the game board, cards, timer, and die are represented on a television or other electronic screen.

Claims

1. A method for playing a game comprising:

providing a game board having a plurality of spaces;

providing game pieces, one for each team, for moving along the plurality of spaces of the game board;

providing a plurality of sets of cards, each set of cards related to a particular category;

providing a set of imitations;

a person describing the contents of a card of the sets of cards according to rules, the rules being specific to a type of the card; and

a group guessing the contents of the card being described, the group including at least one person.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spaces of the game board are identified by a particular color, each color representing a particular category.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the game pieces are distinguished by color.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

one of the sets of cards corresponds to a situational category, wherein at least one situation is described on each card;

one of the sets of cards corresponds to an occupational category, wherein at least one occupation is listed on each card;

or

one of the sets of cards corresponds to a miscellaneous category, wherein at least one miscellaneous person, place, thing, or idea is described on each card.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of imitations are provided on some form of electronic medium.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the group includes one player and the one player is:

provided at least one imitation;

prompted to correctly identify at least one of the set of imitations; and

scored based on a number of correct identifications.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the game board further includes an electronic display and a device configured to operate the electronic display.

8. A method for playing a game comprising:

electronically providing a game board having a plurality of spaces;

electronically displaying game pieces, one for each team, for moving along the plurality of spaces of the game board;

electronically displaying a plurality of sets of cards, each set of cards related to a particular category;

electronically providing a set of imitations;

prompting a person to describe the contents of a card of the sets of cards according to rules, the rules being specific to a type of the card; and

prompting a group to guess the contents of the card being described, the group including at least one person.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of spaces of the game board are identified by a particular color, each color representing a particular category.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the game pieces are distinguished by color.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

one of the sets of cards corresponds to a situational category, wherein at least one situation is described on each card;

one of the sets of cards corresponds to an occupational category, wherein at least one occupation is listed on each card;

or

one of the sets of cards corresponds to a miscellaneous category, wherein at least one miscellaneous person, place, thing, or idea is described on each card.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the set of imitations are provided by another form of electronic media.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the group includes one player and the one player is:

provided at least one imitation;

prompted to correctly identify at least one of the set of imitations; and

scored based on a number of correct identifications.

14. The method of claim 8, further including a device configured to operate the electronic display.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the game board is displayed on a television or monitor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the television or monitor includes a touch-screen that allows at least one aspect of the game to be played by touching the touch- screen.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for execution by one or more processors, the set of instructions comprising:

a first code segment for providing a game board having a plurality of spaces;

a second code segment for providing game pieces, one for each team, for moving along the plurality of spaces of the game board;

a third code segment for providing a plurality of sets of cards, each set of cards related to a particular category;

a fourth code segment for providing a set of imitations;

a fifth code segment for prompting a person to describe the contents of a card of the sets of cards according to rules, the rules being specific to a type of the card; and

a sixth code segment for prompting a group to guess the contents of the card being described, the group including at least one person.