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  Game apparatus and methodRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Board Games, Pieces, Or Boards Therefor, Piece Moves Over Board Having Pattern, Alignment Games (e.g., Morris, Mill)The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060043677. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of Invention [0002] This invention relates to board games. More specifically, the invention relates to board games requiring significant cognitive skills for critical thinking. [0003] 2. Prior Art [0004] Various strategy board games are known, but in general they require that the participants be fluent in a common language or be proficient or literate in language. Games that don't require language proficiency, such as certain card games and board games intended for children, are exceedingly simple and depend much more on luck than critical thinking such as that involving the analysis of multiple variables in order to win. Other known games, usually considered adult games, such as chess, backgammon, and even checkers, lack the excitement of the element of chance. [0005] Heretofore unrecognized is the need for a simple to learn and fun board game that requires no language skills to play, yet requires significant cognitive skills for critical thinking, and has some element of chance as well. SUMMERY [0006] The game board comprises a plurality of spaces organized into multiple runways. Runways are adjacent to the starting point at the center of the board. Branch runways are adjacent to a plurality of runway spaces. Many of the spaces are subdivided into subspaces. Some of these spaces are subdivided into subspaces The center space is the starting point. Prism subspaces are at the intersecting space of a runway and a branch runway. Prisms indicate that the direction of the spectrum sequence may reverse. In its main embodiment, each runway ends with a subspace, star endpoint. Each branch runway ends with a subspace, circle endpoint. The game typically includes pieces known as color tiles. Once tiles are played, they do not move for the duration of the game. The game also typically includes cards known as color cards. Cards are accumulated throughout the game. A card can be acquired in multiple ways; From the deck when a player's tile supply is depleted. When a tile is played on a circle endpoint. When a tile is played on a star endpoint. On a star endpoint, a player has the option of taking a card from another player. To win the game, typically a player must accumulate a set of six various cards to form a full color spectrum. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a top view of a first board of a game in accordance with the game; [0008] FIG. 2 is a top view of a second board for an embodiment of the game; [0009] FIG. 3 illustrates the front of various color cards in accordance with the game; [0010] FIG. 4 illustrates perspective views of various color tiles in accordance with the game; [0011] FIG. 5 is a top view of various color tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the game; [0012] FIG. 6 is a top view of a second set of color tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the game; [0013] FIG. 7 is a top view of a third set of color tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the game; [0014] FIG. 8 is a top view of a fourth set of color tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the game; [0015] FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a tile holder in accordance with the game DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0016] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary game board 7 having game board features thereon defining a starting space 10 and a plurality of branching runways extending from starting space 10 and terminating in a plurality of dead ends. Each runway has a starting point at starting space 10, follows one of a plurality of main branches, 11a, a number of intermediate branches 11b, and ends at an ending branch 11c. Each runway is divided into a number of spaces 9, which in the example are square in shape, though they may take the form of any shape. [0017] Starting point 10 may include some indicia or indication that it is the starting point. In the exemplary embodiment, starting point 10 is indicated by a star. At the end of each ending branch 11c is a special space of two different types identified by a color or design. In game board 7, each ending point is identified as a special space by either a 5-point star or a circle, although other designs and/or indicia may be similarly used. In addition, there is a special space 12 at each branching-off point along the runways identified in the example game board 7 by a triangle. While the special places are located as shown, there is no requirement that each branch end be identified as a special space, and the circle and 5-point stars may identify other spaces as being special. Likewise, other spaces aside from runway intersections, may be identified as a special space 12 using a triangle or other design/indicia. [0018] Although the exemplary embodiment has starting point 10 located in the center of the game board, this is not a requirement for the game. Furthermore, indicia and markings may be printed, applied, or otherwise formed onto the surface of game board 7. Furthermore, game board 7 may be impressed with the game board features described above. Depending upon the material game board 7 is made from, game board features may be burned, carved, engraved, etched, or molded, or additional similar known techniques, and combinations thereof may be employed. [0019] Furthermore, game board 7 and other elements of this invention to be described can be implemented in a computer system for single-player or multiple-player play. For example, a single player could play against any number of computer-generated "virtual" opponents as is known in the art of computer games. Alternatively, a plurality of players can compete by taking turns on a single computer or video game console or using a plurality of computers connected via a computer network, for example, using LAN and/or Internet connections. [0020] In addition to game board 7, the disclosed game comprises a number of tiles comprising a number of sets of tiles wherein each set contains a complete natural sequence of tiles. An exemplary set of tiles are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5' wherein an exemplary red tile 21, orange tile 22, yellow tile 23, green tile 24, blue tile 25 and violet tile 26, are shown. By way of example, the game may include 30 tiles of each color. Note that tiles may be of any shape or size, so long as they fit in spaces 9 of game board 7. Furthermore, they may be made of any of various materials known in the art. Thus, while the term, "tile" is used, they could be made of paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, or the like materials. For example, each tile may be made of transparent colored plastic, thereby identifying its place in the natural sequence of tiles while at the same time allowing one to see through the tile to game board 7. Continue reading... Full patent description for Game apparatus and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Game apparatus and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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