Electronic game device and method of using the same

Title: Electronic game device and method of using the same

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080188277, Electronic game device and method of using the same.

1. An electronic device for playing a game, comprising: a housing, the housing including a plurality of sides, the housing being configured to generate a question and a plurality of answers, each of the answers being associated with a different indicator; a visual output device; and an orientation detector, the orientation detector being configured to determine the orientation of the housing so that the user can provide input to the housing based on the orientation of the housing, the visual output device being configured to generate a different output based on the orientation of the housing, wherein each output is associated with a different indicator, and a user can select an answer and its associated indicator based on the orientation of the housing.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the visual output device is a light emitting device, each different indicator is a different color, and each answer is associated with a different color.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the housing is a material that is at least one of a translucent, semi-translucent and semi-transparent, and light from the light emitting device being visible through the material of the housing.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a visual display mechanism, the visual display mechanism being disposed on one of the plurality of sides, the visual display mechanism being configured to display the question and the plurality of answers.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the visual display mechanism is an LCD screen.

6. An electronic device for playing a game, comprising: a housing; a display being disposed on the housing, the display being configured to communicate to a user a question in response to which a user can provide input; a motion detector, the motion detector being configured to determine movement of the housing, the movement of the housing in a particular direction being associated with a response to the question.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein movement of the housing in a first direction is associated with a first response to the question and movement of the housing in a second direction is associated with a second response to the question.

8. An electronic device for playing a game, comprising: a housing, the housing having a plurality of sides, the housing being made of a material that is semi-translucent, the housing being configured to generate a question and a plurality of answers, each of the answers being associated with a different output; a light emitting device; an orientation detector, the orientation detector being configured to determine the orientation of the housing, the light emitting device generating different outputs based on the orientation of the housing so that the user can provide input to the housing based on the orientation of the housing and the particular output associated with a desired answer and generated by the light emitting device; and a switch, the switch being operably coupled to a controller in the housing, the switch being configured to be activated by the user when the housing is in a desired orientation.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the housing has at least four sides, each of the sides being associated with one of the answers, each of the different outputs being a different color, the light emitting device generating a different color in response to orientation of one of the sides in a predetermined direction.

10. A method of playing a game on an electronic device, the electronic device including a housing with an output device, the method comprising the steps of: presenting a question; presenting potential answers associated with the question, one of the answers being correct in response to the question; associating indicators with the answers, each indicator being associated with one of the answers; generating the indicators with the output device in response to the orientation of the housing, one of the indicators being generated as the housing is disposed in a different orientation; obtaining input from the user, the input including the selection of one of the answers, the input being based on the selection of an indicator; and determining whether the answer associated with the input is correct.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a display screen, and wherein presenting a question includes displaying the question on the display screen and wherein presenting potential answers includes displaying at least two answers on the display screen.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein associating indicators includes displaying visual indicators for each answer on the display screen, the visual indicators being one of objects and different colors.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each potential answer is associated with a different color.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each visual indicator is a different colored font, the font of each potential answer being a different color than the font of the other potential answers.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the housing includes a plurality of surfaces and visual output devices, the visual output devices being light emitting devices, each light emitting device being visible through the housing, and wherein generating the indicators includes illuminating the light emitting devices such that the plurality of surfaces are illuminated in a different color when the housing is in a different orientation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the housing includes an orientation sensor, the orientation sensor being configured to determine the orientation of the housing, the housing including a switch, and wherein obtaining input from the user includes the user contacting the housing so that the switch is activated and wherein determining whether the answer associated with the input is correct includes determining the orientation of the housing when the switch is activated.

17. A method of playing a game on an electronic device, the electronic device including a housing, the method comprising the steps of: evaluating a question generated by the electronic device; evaluating at least three potential answers to the question, one of the potential answers being correct in response to the question; and manipulating the housing to select one of the potential answers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the housing includes a switch, and wherein manipulating the housing to select one of the potential answers includes orienting the housing in a first orientation with respect to a horizontal plane and contacting the housing so that the switch is activated.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the housing includes a plurality of sides, at least two of the sides being associated with different answers, and the manipulating the housing includes moving the housing so that one of the sides is oriented in a desired orientation and providing a selection input to the housing.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the orientation of each of the at least two sides is associated with a different color, each of the answers being associated with one of the different colors, and wherein moving the housing includes rotating the housing so that the side of the housing with a desired color is in a desired orientation.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

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Previous Patent Application:
Game and system for nostalgically replicating baseball and a method for playing a baseball game
Next Patent Application:
Gaming device having a plurality of interactive player-selectable symbols
Industry Class:
Amusement devices: games

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