NARRATING GAMES

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

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

Application Serial No. 11/406,736, filed April 18, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Patent

Application Serial No. 60/687,203, filed June 3, 2005. The complete disclosure of

those applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Background of the Disclosure

The present disclosure is directed to narrating and/or story-telling games,

including those games where play may be facilitated by one or more playing pieces.

Examples of narrating and/or story-telling games are found in U.S. Patent Nos.

6,638,171 ; 6,270,077; 5,540,609; 5,435,726; 5,282,632; 5,100,154; 5,005,839;

4,684,135; 4,637,799; 3,940,863; 3,891,209; 2,728,997; 2,521,775; and 1,716,069;

U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2005/0093239; 2004/0026857; and

2002/0074727; United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB-A 2210271; and Japanese

Patent Application Nos. 8289974 and 2002-282533. The complete disclosures of

those patents and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference for all

purposes.

Summary of the Disclosure

Some embodiments provide a method of playing a game. The game including

a plurality of playing pieces, at least some of the playing pieces each has at least one

indicium that is representative of a concept. The method comprising selecting a first

playing piece; telling a first part of a story, the first part being associated with the

concept represented by the at least one indicium of the selected first playing piece;

selecting a second playing piece; telling a second part of the story, the second part

being associated with the concept represented by the at least one indicium of the

selected second playing piece; hiding the at least one indicium of the first and second

playing pieces; and recalling the at least one hidden indicium of at least one of the first

and second playing pieces.

Some embodiments provide a method of playing a game. The game including

at least one game board and a plurality of playing cards, at least some of the playing

cards each has at least one graphic image that is representative of a concept and at

least one play indicium. The method comprising selecting a first playing card; placing

the first playing card on the at least one game board with the at least one graphic

image and the at least one play indicium of the first playing card visible; telling a first

part of a story, the first part being associated with the concept represented by the at

least one graphic image of the placed first playing card; selecting a second playing

card, the second playing card including the at least one play indicium that corresponds

with the at least one play indicium of the placed first playing card; placing the second

playing card on the at least one game board with the at least one graphic image and

the at least one play indicium of the second playing card visible; retelling the first part

of the story; after retelling the first part of the story, telling a second part of the story,

the second part being associated with the concept represented by the at least one

graphic image of the second playing card; hiding the at least one graphic image of the

first and second playing cards after telling the second part of the story; recalling the at

least one hidden graphic image of at least one of the first and second playing cards;

and revealing the at least one graphic image of at least one of the first and second

playing cards to determine if the at least one graphic image was correctly recalled.

Some embodiments provide a method of playing a game for at least two

players including a first player and a second player. The game including a plurality of

playing pieces, at least some of the playing pieces each has at least one concept

indicium that is representative of a concept and at least one play indicium. The

method comprising the first player selecting a first playing piece; the first player

telling a first part of a story, the first part being associated with the concept

represented by the at least one concept indicium of the first playing piece; the second

player selecting a second playing piece having the at least one play indicium that

corresponds with the at least one play indicium of the first playing piece; the second

player retelling the first part of the story; and the second player, after retelling the first

part of the story, telling a second part of the story, the second part being associated

with the concept represented by the at least one concept indicium of the second

playing piece.

Some embodiments provide a game. The game comprising a plurality of

playing cards, at least some of the playing cards each including at least one graphic

image; and a plurality of game boards each including a plurality of card receiving

spaces, the plurality of game boards being configured to interlock to form a

combination game board having a number of card receiving spaces equal to a sum of

card receiving spaces of the individual interlocked boards.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 shows some embodiments of a narrating game.

Fig. 2 shows playing pieces for the narrating game of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a playing area including a plurality of game boards for the

narrating game of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows character pieces for the narrating game of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5-6 show flowcharts showing some embodiments of a method of playing

the game of Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of the Disclosure

Referring to Fig. 1, some embodiments of a narrating game is shown generally

at 10 and may include a plurality of playing pieces 12, a playing area 14, and a

plurality of character pieces 16.

Playing pieces 12 may include any suitable structure configured to facilitate the

narrating game. For example, the playing pieces may include a plurality of playing

cards 18. The playing cards may be any suitable size and/or shape configured to allow

players of the game to grasp the playing cards and/or position those cards on the

playing area. Additionally, the playing cards may be any suitable number, such as

fifty-two cards. Moreover, playing cards may have gripping features (not shown) to

improve contact with players' fingers. Those gripping features may include grooves,

ridges, undulations, and/or rough portions, among others, or any suitable combination

to promote handling.

At least some of the playing cards each may include one or more concept

indicia 20. The concept indicia may include any suitable type(s) of indicia configured

to represent one or more concepts. For example, concept indicia 20 may include

object representations and/or graphic images 22. The graphic images and/or object

representations may include one or more objects, characters, places, actions, etc. For

example, as shown in Fig. 2, graphic images 22 may include images of a caveman, a

hat, a ferris wheel, a flying girl, a sailboat, etc.

Although specific images are shown, graphic images 22 may include any

images of any suitable objects, characters, places, actions, etc. Additionally, although

only one graphic image is shown on each of the playing cards, any suitable number of

graphic images may be included for the playing cards. Moreover, although concept

indicia 20 are shown to include graphic images 22, the concept indicia may

alternatively, or additionally, include number(s), text, alphanumeric character(s),

geometric shape(s), symbol(s), color(s), and/or any suitable combination.

At least some of the playing cards may include one or more play indicia 24.

The play indicia may be different types with each type of the play indicium appearing

on one or more of the at least some of the playing cards. The play indicia may include

any suitable type(s) of indicia on the playing cards configured to correspond to and/or

at least substantially match the play indicia on other playing cards and/or to convey

any suitable information to the players. For example, play indicia 24 may include

color indicia 26 and/or iconic indicia 28, as shown in Fig. 2.

"Correspond," "corresponds," and "corresponding," as used herein, means that

there are one or more characteristics in common between the indicia. Although play

indicia 24 is shown to include color indicia 26 and/or iconic indicia 28, the play

indicia may alternatively, or additionally, include numeral(s), text, alphanumeric

character(s), symbol(s), geometric shape(s), and/or any suitable combination. For

example, the play indicia on the playing cards may include text indicia, which may

correspond to text indicia on other playing cards.

Additionally, one or more of the playing cards may include multiple color

and/or iconic indicia, which may correspond to multiple indicia on other of the

playing cards. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more of the playing cards may be

designated in any suitable way as "wild" cards that may be played as if it contained

some or all of play indicia 24, such as wild playing card 30 shown in Fig. 2, which

may include at least some of the types of color indicia used on the other playing cards.

Moreover, although color indicia 26 are shown to be shaped as an outer

perimeter or border of the playing cards, the color indicia may have any suitable

shape(s) and/or iocation(s). Furthermore, although iconic indicia 28 are shown to be

located on the upper right corner of the playing cards, the iconic indicia may be

located in any suitable portion of the playing cards. Additionally, although playing

pieces 12 are shown to include playing cards 18, any suitable two or three-

dimensional objects may be used that may the concept and play indicia discussed

above and/or may be received on the playing area. For example, playing pieces 12

may include tokens, coins, sculptures, etc.

Playing area 14 may include any suitable structure to receive at least some of

the playing pieces and/or at least some of the character pieces. For example, playing

area may be in the form of one or more game boards 32, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. At

least some of the game boards may include a first end portion 34 and a second end

portion 36. Additionally, at least some of the game boards may each include a

plurality of playing piece receiving spaces 38 (such as card receiving spaces).

The playing piece receiving spaces may include any suitable spaces configured

to receive at least some of playing pieces. Playing piece receiving spaces 38 may, for

example, include a plurality of rectangles 39. The playing card receiving spaces may

be sized to receive one or more of the playing pieces.

The playing piece receiving spaces also may be distributed along game boards

32 in any suitable fashion. For example, playing piece receiving spaces 38 may be

distributed across at least a substantial portion of the playing area in a linear fashion,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Additionally, any suitable number of playing piece

receiving spaces 38 may be provided on game boards 32. The number of playing

piece receiving spaces on at least some of the game boards may be the same or may be

different. For example, Fig. 3 shows a first game board 40 with two playing piece

receiving spaces 38, a second game board 42 with four playing piece receiving spaces,

and a third game board 44 with three playing piece receiving spaces. Alternatively,

each game board may include a certain number of playing piece receiving spaces 38,

such as three or four spaces.

Although playing piece receiving spaces 38 are shown to include rectangles 39,

those spaces may include any suitable shape(s) or form(s), including squares,

triangles, circles, and/or any suitable combination. Additionally, although each of the

playing piece receiving spaces is shown to be sized to fit one of the playing pieces,

those spaces may be sized for any suitable number of the playing pieces, including

two playing pieces, three playing pieces, four playing pieces, etc. Moreover, although

playing piece receiving spaces 38 are shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to be distributed across a

substantial portion of game boards 32 in a linear fashion, those spaces may be

distributed in any patterned and/or random way across any suitable ρortion(s) of the

game board(s). Furthermore, although game boards 32 are shown to include two to

four playing piece receiving spaces 38, the game boards may include any suitable

number of the playing piece receiving spaces.

At least some of game boards 32 may include one or more interlocking

structures 40, which may include any suitable structure configured to interlock to form

at least one combination game board 42 having a number of playing piece receiving

spaces equal to a sum of playing piece receiving spaces of the individual interlocked

game boards. For example, interlocking structures 40 may include at least one

receiving portion 44 and/or at least one protruding portion 46, as shown in Fig. 3. The

receiving portion may be configured to receive at least one protruding portion. The

interlocking structure(s) may be located on any suitable portion(s) of the game boards.

For example, at least some of game boards 32 may include receiving and/or

protruding portions on the first end portion and/or receiving and/or protruding

portions on the second end portion.

Although interlocking structures 40 are shown to be located on one or more

end portions of the game boards, the interlocking structures may be located on any

suitable portion(s) of the game boards, such as one or more side portions.

Additionally, although the combination game board in Fig. 3 is shown to include

game boards 32 with specific types of interlocking structures 40, the game boards may

include any suitable type(s) of the interlocking structures. For example, at least some

of the game boards may include both the receiving and protruding portions to allow a

user to interlock more than three game boards. Alternatively, or additionally, at least

some of the game boards may be free from interlocking structures and the user may

simply place those game boards adjacent to each other. Moreover, although

interlocking structures 40 are shown to include the receiving and protruding portions,

the interlocking structures may include any suitable structure configured to allow two

or more game boards to interlock to form the combination game board.

In some embodiments, the game boards may include one or more board indicia

(not shown), which may include any suitable indicia configured to facilitate game

play. For example, the board indicia may include text requiring a specific theme

and/or specific time span for the story. Additionally, or alternatively, the board

indicia may correspond to, or at least substantially match, the play indicia on the

playing cards.

Although playing area 14 is shown to include game boards 32, the playing area

may include any suitable structure configured to receive at least some of the playing

pieces, such as mats, restaurant menus, sculptures of suitable items, etc. Alternatively,

the playing area may simply be any surface, such as a desk or a floor.

Character pieces 16, as shown in Fig. 4, may include any suitable structure

configured to represent one or more characters. The character pieces may be any

suitable size and/or shape configured to allow players of the game to grasp the

character piece. Additionally, the character pieces may be any suitable number, such

as the number of maximum players per game.

Moreover, character pieces 16 may have gripping features (not shown) to

improve contact with a player's fingers. Those gripping features may include

grooves, ridges, undulations, and/or rough portions, among others, or any suitable

combination to promote handling. Although character pieces 16 are shown to

represent particular characters, the character pieces may represent any suitable

character(s). Additionally, although four character pieces 16 are shown, any suitable

number of the character pieces may be included with game 10.

In some embodiments of the game, the character pieces may include indicia

(not shown) that corresponds to or at least substantially matches the play indicia of the

playing cards. For example, the character pieces may have color indicia and iconic

indicia that correspond to the color and iconic indicia of the playing cards.

Although game 10 is shown to include playing pieces 12, playing area 14, and

character pieces 16, the game may include any suitable structure configured to provide

narrating and/or story-telling games. For example, the game may include only playing

pieces 12. Alternatively, or additionally, the game may include other structure

configured to facilitate the narrating game.

A method 100 for playing game 10 will be further described with reference to

Figs. 5-6. The method may be divided into any suitable number of phases or rounds.

For example, a method of playing a first or story round 102 of the game is shown in

Fig. 5. A player may begin his or her turn at 104. That player may draw the playing

pieces (such as playing cards) from a stack so that he or she has a minimum number,

such as three cards, at 106. The player may then repeat the parts of the story based on

and/or associated with the concept represented by the concept indicia (such as graphic

images, which may include one or more images of objects, characters, places, and

actions) on the playing pieces already on the playing area at 108. If the player is first

to start the round, then that player may skip this step.

The player may check if any of the drawn playing pieces has corresponding

play indicia (such as color and/or iconic indicia) with the playing pieces previously

placed on the playing area at 110. If one or more playing pieces have corresponding

play indicia, then the player may select one of those playing pieces and place it on the

playing area with the concept and play indicia visible at 112. The player may then

continue with a new part of the story based on and/or being associated with the

concept represented by the at least one concept indicium of the selected playing piece

on the playing area at 1 14. That player's turn may then end at 116.

If none of the drawn playing pieces has corresponding play indicia, then the

player may discard one playing piece at 118 and may draw a new playing piece at

120. The player may check if the new playing piece has corresponding play indicia

with the playing piece previously placed on the playing area at 122. If the new

playing piece does not have corresponding play indicia, then the player's turn may end

at 116.

If the new playing piece has corresponding play indicia, then the player may

place that playing piece on the playing area at 112. The player may then continue

with a new part of the story based on and/or associated with the concept represented

by the concept indicium of the new playing piece on the playing area at 114. That

player's turn may then end at 116.

If the player is the first player, then that player may skip at least some of the

steps discussed above and may place any of the drawn playing pieces on any suitable

location on the playing area. For example, the first player may select a playing piece

and then place the playing piece on the leftmost playing piece receiving space. The

first player may then tell a first part of the story based on or associated with the

concept indicium of the playing piece placed on the playing area. The second player

may then follow the method described above.

Players may take turns going through the method of first round 102 and the

goal is to play until any suitable stopping point. For example, the round may be

played until all the playing pieces receiving spaces on the playing area (which may

include one or more of the game boards) are full. Alternatively, or additionally, the

round may be played until any suitable number of playing pieces have been played or

placed on the playing area. Although particular stopping points have been discussed,

the method includes all suitable stopping points for the round, which may include all,

some, or none of the stopping points discussed above.

Additionally, the method may include any suitable preparation steps before

beginning the round and/or the game. For example, at least some of the playing

pieces may be mixed and/or shuffled and any suitable number of playing pieces (such

as three) may be given and/or dealt to each player. Moreover, an order of play may be

determined before the round and/or game. The order of play may be based on any

suitable order, such as by descending or ascending age of the players. Furthermore,

the number and/or types of the game boards to be used during the game may be

determined and/or selected. That number may be based, at least in part, on any

suitable factor or combination of factors, such as number of players, length of play

desired, etc. Additionally, the players may select their character pieces from the

plurality of character pieces before beginning the round and/or the game.

Furthermore, the method may be modified to increase or decrease its challenge,

or for any suitable purpose. For example, at least some of the players may be required

to retell the story in reverse or random order. Additionally, or alternatively, at least

some of the players may be required to associate their part of the story with the

characters represented by their character pieces in addition to, or as an alternative to,

associating that part with the selected or new playing pieces.

Alternatively, or additionally, playing pieces may be used even if the play

indicia do not match the indicia of the previous playing piece. Additionally, or

alternatively, the play indicia of the playing card may be required to correspond to, or

at least substantially match, the indicia on the character pieces and/or board indicia

associated with the playing piece receiving space adjacent to the last placed playing

piece. Alternatively, or additionally, more than one playing piece may be played per

turn.

However, the steps discussed above may be performed in different sequences

and in different combinations, not all steps being required for all embodiments of the

round and/or the game. For example, a player may be required to select a playing

piece with corresponding play indicia and place that playing piece on the playing area

before retelling the previous parts of the story and telling the new part of the story

associated with the concept represented by the concept indicium of the selected

playing piece. Additionally, or alternatively, a player may be required to tell the new

part of the story first before telling the previous parts of the story.

When the stopping point of the method of first round 102 is reached, the

players may then proceed to a second or memory round 124 of game 10 as shown in

Fig. 6. A player may begin his or her turn at 126. That player may recall the concept

indicium of at least one playing piece with hidden concept indicium at 128. The

player may then reveal the hidden concept indicium of the playing piece at 130.

That player and/or one or more other players may then determine if the hidden

concept indicium was correctly recalled at 132. If the concept indicium was correctly

recalled, then the player may keep the playing piece at 134 and may end his or her

turn at 136. If the concept indicium was not correctly recalled, then the player may

hide the concept indicium of the playing piece at 138 and may end his or her turn at

136.

Players may take turns going through the method and the goal is to play until

any suitable stopping point. For example, the round may be played until all the

concept indicia of the playing pieces have been revealed. Alternatively, or

additionally, the round may be played until a player has a certain number of playing

pieces. Although particular stopping points have been discussed, the method includes

all suitable stopping points for the round, which may include all, some, or none of the

stopping points discussed above.

Additionally, the method may include any suitable preparation steps before

beginning the round. For example, the concept indicia of at least some of the playing

cards may be hidden, such as turning playing pieces over face down on the playing

area. Moreover, an order of play may be determined before the round. The order of

play may be based on any suitable order, such as the player who played the last card in

the previous round will go second in the round.

Furthermore, the method may be modified to increase or decrease its challenge,

and/or for any suitable purpose. For example, the order of any suitable number of

playing pieces may be switched by any suitable player after the concept indicia of

those cards have been hidden and/or before the concept indicium is recalled, such as

the player who played the last playing piece in the first round may switch the

placement of two playing pieces on the playing area, thereby providing extra

challenges. However, the steps discussed above may be performed in different

sequences and in different combinations, not all steps being required for all

embodiments of the round and/or the game.

The players may go through the methods described above any suitable number

of times as they create and/or recount any suitable number of stories. For example,

the players may go through the first and second rounds three times. The winner of the

game may be determined in any suitable way. For example, the player with the most

playing pieces at the end of the game may be the winner. Alternatively, or

additionally, the player with the most points at the end of the game may be the winner.

The player's score may be calculated by any suitable method and may be based, at

least in part, on any suitable indicia of the components of the game. For example, any

suitable number of points may be awarded for being able to recount the concept

indicia of the playing piece(s). Although particular bases of calculating the score is

discussed, the method includes all other suitable bases of calculating the score, which

may include all, some, or none of the bases described above.

Although play of the game is described as having first and second rounds, the

game may include any suitable rounds and any suitable combination of rounds. For

example, the game may include a third round where players play the same playing

pieces as they did in the first round but must narrate a different story, and/or a fourth

round where players must recall the concept indicia using the same playing pieces.

The game also may include a set of instructions or rules and/or an inventory of

contents. An example of instructions, rules, and inventory that might be used for the

game is provided below. Although a specific example is provided, the game may

include a set of any suitable instructions, rules and/or inventory, including any suitable

combination of the instructions, rules, and inventory already discussed above.

General Description:

It's so much fun to make up stories! In this game you get to create silly stories with your opponent by playing cards one at a time. Use the colorful pictures on the cards to direct your story and watch how funny they become. In order to win, however, you must be the player who can remember the most cards, in order, after they are flipped over! It's the perfect balance of concentration and creativity!

For 2-4 players Creative Storytelling Concentration

Contents:

52 Story Cards 3 Story Boards 4 Character "Story Starters"

THE OBJECT

To win, be the player that can remember the most cards during the memory round.

Pick a story starter character out of the bag and create a story with your opponent's one card at a time. But to win you must be victorious in the Memory Round when all the cards are turned over after the story has been completed. Take turns recalling the face down cards, in order, flipping them over one at a time. If you guess correctly you get to keep the card. The player who correctly remembers the most cards wins.

Let's Play!

1. Place all 4 Story Starters in the bag.

2. The first player to yell out their most favorite story gets to pick the "story starter" out of the bag. 3. Choose the length of your game by laying out the appropriate sized board, or by linking two or three boards together. (1 board w/ 4 spaces/1 board w/ 2 spaces/ 1 board w/ 3 spaces.)

4. Shuffle the 52 story cards and deal 3 to each player.

5. Youngest player goes First.

The Story Starters: These 4 characters want to be part of your imaginative tale. Use them to help your story along. They can be main characters, or just funny sidekicks. It's up to you! Look for their icons as you play each story card. At the end of the memory round, if there is a tie, the player whose cards have the most icons matching the Story Starter in play will win the game!

Story Round

1. The first player may choose any card in their hand and play it face up on the board starting on the furthest left space. As you lay it down, begin a story by including the object on the card. If you wish also include the story starter in play. Draw back up to three at the beginning of every turn.

2. Player 2 repeats the previous story. Then he/she plays their card continuing the tale based on the object on that card. Player 2 may only play a card that matches the same color or icon as the previous card played.

3. If a player has no matches in their hand you have once chance to make a new match. Discard 1 of your cards and draw a new one in its place. Play the card if it is a match. If it is not, your turn is over.

4. Players continue taking turns repeating the story and playing a new card to continue the story until the board is full.

5. When the storyboard has been completely filled, the Story Round is officially over, and the Memory Round begins.

Memory Round

1. The player who places the final card to fill up the storyboard flips all the cards over one at a time so that they are all face down. 2. Turn order continues uninterrupted so that the next player is the first one to guess.

3. Begin the memory round by the guessing at the first card played in the story and continuing in order.

4. Take turns remembering which object, character, place or action is on the face down cards, one at a time.

5. Make your guess out loud, and then turn over the card to check if you are correct. a. If you guess correctly take the card and place it in front of you. Each card counts as 1 point and will remain in front of you till the end of the game. b. If you guess incorrectly return the card face down to its place on the story board for the next player to guess. Players take turns guessing until all the cards have been removed from the story board.

6. The player with the most cards in front of them after the memory round wins the game.

7. If there is a tie, the player whose cards have the most icons matching the Story Starter in play will win the game!

Level 2

1. When the Story Round if over and the board is full, flip all the cards face down.

2. The player who played the last card may now switch the placement of any two cards on the Story Board. This will create any extra challenge during the Memory Round.

3. To insure victory, players may choose cards to remember out of order to insure they have the most cards with icons matching the story starter in play.

Winning the Game

To win, be the player that can remember the most cards during the memory round.

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 limiting 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 ^u 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.

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.