US20190060740A1

US20190060740A1 - Word-linking board game apparatus and method of use

Info

Publication number: US20190060740A1
Application number: US15/691,902
Authority: US
Inventors: Jim Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-08-31
Filing date: 2017-08-31
Publication date: 2019-02-28

Abstract

A multi-player word linking board game apparatus configured to provide a turn style word-linking game wherein a winner is declared by not reaching a pre-determined “final grid.” The apparatus includes a foldable game board have a plurality of successively numbered grids and superimposed over a background containing a variety of associating words. The apparatus further enables each participating player to challenge another's word-link and if successful forfeit a turn play.

Description

FIELD

The embodiments presented provide a board game apparatus, and in particular, a multi-player board game apparatus wherein each player advances their playing pawn throughout the consecutively numbered grids of the board game in response to an incorrect linking of an associated word.

BACKGROUND

Board games challenges each player's memory, hand-to-eye coordination, and provide valuable team building skills and concepts such as creating strategies and tactics, social interaction, communication, and complex problem-solving. Each game has its own unique challenges and tactics while still providing an opportunity for each individual player to challenge his/her own imagination.
Traditionally many board games were designed to be played in a structured environment on pre-defined boards with strict rules of procedure and order, usually contained within the game's rulebook. These games required each player to follow the same repetitive steps until one player is declared a winner, leaving little room for individual ingenuity and tactical prowess. The resultant play became predictive, one-dimensional, and obsolete.
Conversely, in the past few years many board games have incorporated fantasy with reality which allows players to develop their own play pattern and leads to mixed results and games with no defined beginning or end. These freeform style games are typically controlled by arbitrary or player invented rules and are controlled or monitored by a single player which results in gameplay that is unpredictable, time-consuming, and difficult to construct. These obstacles make it difficult for players new to the group and especially those players new to the game to join an established game group without a substantial period required to learn and understand the house rules, playstyle, and interactive dynamics.
In response to the growing need for interactive play games and devices which require a level of personal creativity yet retain consistent gameplay and predictability for players, there has been a growing market for board games that incorporate both set components and player provided accompaniments. Often, these accompaniments are meant to build off of the set components of the game and permit the gameplay to remain consistent while the content develops and differs in each played game. By their nature, these player provided variables may be tethered to set components of the game without being limited to a finite number of potential expressions.
Though there are several game board systems and designs known in the art such as U.S. Design Pat. No. 389872 to Rhea; U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,898 to Merritt; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,571 to McWilliams; there is no single reference which discloses every feature of the embodiments shown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments provided describe a multi-player word-linking board game apparatus configured wherein participants are required to word-link from an associated word provided from a drawn card or fellow player. The apparatus includes a planar board game having ten equilaterally spaced positions arranged around the perimeter of a first side with a variety of colors and word combinations blended into the background. The apparatus further includes a stack of playing cards, hourglass timer, and a plurality of game pawns. During use, the pre-determined first player draws a card from the stack of cards located at the center of the playing board while any player may simultaneously initiate the timer by turning over the hourglass timer. Each of the cards contains an “associating word” with which the subsequent player must correctly link to in order to advance gameplay to the next player in the round. Thereafter, each following subsequent player must link to the word provided by the player immediately preceding the turn.
The embodiments further illustrate a method of use (i.e., play) in which a winner is achieved by remaining in the game while other participating players advance through the successively numbered grids until they reach a final grid. The game is first prepared by gathering all related components of the apparatus, including the hourglass which is kept to the side and the stack of cards which are placed in a separate, designated grid in the center of the board. Gameplay is then initiated, beginning with organizing each of the players in successive order around the square-shaped board game for turn style gameplay. Once the players and apparatus components are properly arranged, the game pawns are distributed amongst players and placed at a starting position (i.e., a “0” grid or unnumbered non-grid position) in anticipation of a new round of play. The turn player first draws a card from the stack of playing cards located at the center of the game board and ends his turn, simultaneously any participating player may initiate the timer. Under this pre-determined timed condition, the next turn player must provide a new word link with the “associated word” drawn from the stack cards. If the turn player is able to “word link” within the allotted time, the turn ends and passes to the next player, or the word link may be challenged by any participating player. Each subsequent turn player must provide a word link for the word provided by the player immediately preceding the turn in the same manner as the player who first provides a word link to the work on the playing card that was drawn at the outset of the round. Each round continues with this turn style play until one turn player fails to successfully word link and the round ends. If the word link fails as a result of either a successful challenge or the turn player's failure to provide a word link within the allotted time, the round ends and the player will advance his playing pawn to the next successively numbered grid on the game board or to the first numbered grid if the pawn was still in a starting position. If the turn player has reached a pre-determined final grid, the player is out and no longer participates for the remainder of the game, and the game continues with a new round of play excluding that player. A winner is declared when all other players' pawns have reached the final grid, and the winning player's pawn is the last remaining on the board, not in the final grid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a word-linking board game apparatus;

FIG. 2 is view of the playing components of the apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are set forth in this application. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitation or inferences are to be understood therefrom. Furthermore, as used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship, or order between such entities or elements.
There is shown in the embodiments a word-linking board game apparatus designed for multiple players to challenge individual creativity, terminology, and cognitive development by requiring each participant to create and link a newly created “word-link” from an “associated word” drawn from the stack of playing cards or alternatively created from the last word of a previously created word-link. The game may be played under timed conditions by flipping an hourglass timer between turns. When a player fails to create a word-link, allows the allotted time to lapse within the hourglass timer, or is successfully challenged based on the answer provided, the player must advance his/her playing pawn one successively numbered grid space on the game board. Play will continue in the same manner until a lone player has not reached the predetermined final grid. The last participating player remaining in the “round” is declared the winner, and a new round begins.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a word-linking board game apparatus 10 which further contains a foldable game board 12 that is divided into a plurality of playing grids 14 super imposed on a background 16 containing a variety of printed words and “word-links.” As illustrated, each of the playing grids 14 are successively numbered between “1” and “10” and evenly spaced throughout the game board 12. During play, a player will begin at play grid “1,” and advance throughout the successively numbered playing grids 14 until a player reaches “10,” or a different numbered is selected as the “final grid.” For example, the players may agree that to shorten the duration of the game, and number “7” may serve as the “end playing grid.” Further illustrated on the game board 12 is the “out” grid 17 where a player is to place their playing pawn 18 (further illustrated in FIG. 2) when they have reached the pre-determined “final grid” until a next round is started. Located at the center of the game board 20 is a parallelogram-shaped specialty grid 22 which is used as the placeholder for the stack of playing cards 24 for use between draws by the plurality of participating players.
Shown in FIG. 2 is a view of the playing components 26 which are used in conjunction with the game board 12 during play. The stack of playing cards may be stored within a playing card box dimensioned to fit the numbered stack for portability or storage. Each playing card 24 within the deck included is printed with an “associating word.” One example of an “associating word” found on a playing card 24 is “Drop” which the player will display to the other participating players. A player may then flip the hourglass timer 28 to created timed conditions. This turn player is now responsible for creating a “word link” with the “associating word” shown on a first side of the playing cards. If a “word-link” is achieved, play resumes and the turn passes to the next participating player who is required to create a “word-link” with the last word of the successful word-link. If a participating player is unable to achieve a word link, he/she must move his/her playing pawn 18 to the next successively numbered playing grid 14.
Shown in FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of use 310. A game is first prepared by gathering all related components including the playing cards 24, hourglass timer 28, and playing pawns 18 and placing the playing cards within the parallelogram-shaped specialty grid 22. Each of the playing pawns may be customized with a specific design scheme pre-selected by a participating player before a round has begun.
A new round of “Word-Link” is then started 312, beginning with organizing each of the players in successive order around the square-shaped board game for turn style gameplay. Once the players and apparatus components are properly arranged, the game pawns are distributed amongst players and placed at a starting position 314 (i.e., a “0” grid or unnumbered non-grid position) to begin the first round 316. The turn player first draws a card from the stack of playing cards 318 located at the center of the game board and ends his/her turn, simultaneously any participating player may initiate the timer 320 and place pressure on the player by creating timed conditions. Under this pre-determined timed condition, the next turn player must provide a new word link with the “associated word” drawn from the stack cards 322. If this turn player is able to “word link” within the allotted time remaining in the hourglass timer 28, the turn ends and passes to the next player 326, or the word link may be challenged by any participating player 328 who may believe the word-link provided is not valid. If the word is found to be invalid by a challenge from a second participating player 330, the turn player is required to advance his/her playing pawn one successively numbered grid 332. If the participating player has reached the pre-determined “final grid” or the play grid numbered “10”, the player is out of the current round and forfeits his/her turn for the remainder of the game.
The flow of the game is a condition of each player's ability to provide a “word-link” with the last word of the previous “word link” created or the “associating word” shown on the first side of a playing card. If the turn player has reached a pre-determined “final grid”, the player is out and no longer participates for the remainder of the game and the game continues with a new round of play excluding that player 338. A winner 340 is achieved when all other players' pawns have reached the final grid and the winning player's pawn is the last remaining on the board, not in the final grid. A new game may then be started according to the methods discussed above 342.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.

Claims

1. A word-linking board game apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a game board including a plurality of consecutively labeled spaces arranged thereon, the consecutively labeled spaces having a start space and an end space;

a plurality of distinguishable game pawns, each game pawn being assigned to at least one player and positionable in a space and moveable from one space to another as the game progresses;

a timer;

a plurality of playing cards, each playing card having at least one associating word on a first side; and

a set of instructions to guide the players to play in turn according to at least the following steps:

a first player attempts to suggest a word-link associated with an associating word on a card drawn by the first player or associated with a previous word-link suggested by a previous player;

responsive to the first player failing to suggest a word-link before expiration of the timer without a supported challenge, a game pawn of the first player is advanced toward the end space and a next player takes a turn to suggest a another word-link; and

the above steps are repeated until all but one player's game pawn has advanced to the end space, at which time the player whose game pawn has not advanced to the end space is declared the winner.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the board includes a background containing a plurality of potential associating words.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the board further includes a specialty grid at a center of the board which is configured to receive the plurality of playing cards.

4. (canceled)

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the square-shaped board game includes an “out” grid.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of game pawns includes a unique design scheme.

10-16. (canceled)

17. A method of playing a word-linking board game, the method comprising:

providing a game board having a plurality of sequentially labeled spaces thereon, the sequentially labeled spaces having a first space and a last space;

distributing at least one playing pawn from a plurality of distinguishable playing pawns to each of a plurality of players;

providing a plurality of playing cards, each of the plurality of playing cards containing an associating word;

each player in turn attempting to create a word-link from one of an associating word drawn from the plurality of playing cards and a word-link provided by a previous turn's player, the attempting subject to a constraint of at least one of a time limit and a successful challenge to the attempted word-link, the challenge being made by another player whose turn it is not;

changing a position on the board of a pawn of the player whose turn it is when the player whose turn it is fails to create a word-link within the time limit or creates a word-link that is successfully challenged by a player whose turn it is not; and

declaring as the winner the player whose playing pawn has not advanced to the last space when all other player's pawns have advanced to the last space.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a challenge is considered successful if joined by at least one other player.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein changing a position on the board of a pawn of a player includes advancing the pawn toward the last space.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein a player may choose to start a timer at any time during another player's turn.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions provide that a challenge is considered successful if joined by a player not first asserting the challenge.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a winner is the one player whose game pawn has not advanced to the end space when all other player's game pawns have advanced to the end space.

23. A method of playing a word-link game by constraining player behavior according to a set of rules of the game, the method comprising:

providing a game board with a plurality of consecutive positions including a starting position and an ending position;

providing a plurality of game pawns, one for each of a plurality of players, and positionable at the starting position to start the game; and

providing a deck of cards, each card having only a single word that when drawn provides the starting word of a round of word-linking by the players;

advancing a game pawn of a player to a next subsequent position toward the ending position when the player fails to provide a word-link within a specified time and fails to provide a word-link without a supported challenge by another player; and

declaring a winner when all game pawns but one have advanced to the ending position.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein a challenge is supported when supported by a player other than a player first asserting the challenge.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein a player may choose to start a timer at any time during another player's turn.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein for a challenge to be supported, a player must support the challenge prior to the expiration of the timer.