WO2006132825A2

WO2006132825A2 - Building games

Info

Publication number: WO2006132825A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/020484
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kimberly V. Matilla; Benjamin Blagg
Original assignee: Mattel, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-06-03
Filing date: 2006-05-24
Publication date: 2006-12-14
Also published as: WO2006132825A3; US20060284372A1

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to building games and methods of playing building games. In some embodiments, the game includes a plurality of building pieces and a plurality of base assemblies. In some embodiments, the method includes selecting a playing piece having a first indicium; selecting a building piece having a second indicium; comparing the second indicium with the first indicium; and engaging the building piece with one or more of the other building pieces to form one or more buildings. In some embodiments, the method includes selecting a base assembly having a first indicium; selecting a building piece having a second indicium; comparing the second indicium with the first indicium; and engaging the building piece with at least one of the base assemblies and one or more of the other building pieces to form one or more buildings.

Description

BUILDING GAMES

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

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

Application Serial No. 11/404,172, filed April 13, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent

Application Serial No. 60/687,242, filed June 3, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Patent

Application Serial No. 60/687,995, filed June 6, 2005. The complete disclosures of

the above patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Background of the Disclosure

The present disclosure is directed to building and/or construction games,

including building games where play may be facilitated by indicia on building

components, one or more dice, and/or one or more game boards.

Examples of building games are found in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,857,633;

6,761,354; 6,684,591 ; 6,086,067; 5,788,233; 5,749,579; 5,711,524; 5,685,545;

5,683,087; 5,560,611; 5,301,953; 5,281,185; 5,251,900; 4,950,912; 4,895,543;

4,790,759; 4,666,162; 4,484,748; 4,387,897; 4,133,538; 4,055,348; 3,899,169;

3,678,602; 3,657,838; 3,649,018; 3,427,028; 3,226,122; 2,506,184; 2,456,098;

2,175,939; 1,591,554; 1,472,536; and 1,143,636; U.S. Patent Application Nos.

2005/0049036 and 2004/0212149; European Patent Nos. 106770 and 92660;

European Patent Application No. 92660; PCT Application Nos. 9967764 and

05023385; and United Kingdom Patent Application Nos. 2402348; 2307867;

2255510; 2231499; 1560989; 1471139; and 0436959, 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 building pieces and a plurality of playing pieces. The method

comprising selecting a playing piece having a first indicium from the plurality of

playing pieces; selecting a building piece having a second indicium from the plurality

of building pieces; comparing the second indicium with the first indicium; and

engaging the building piece with one or more of the other building pieces to form one

or more buildings when the second indicium on the building piece corresponds with

the first indicium on the playing piece.

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

a plurality of building pieces and a plurality of base assemblies. The method

comprising selecting a base assembly having a first indicium from the plurality of

base assemblies; selecting a building piece having a second indicium from the

plurality of building pieces; comparing the second indicium with the first indicium;

and engaging the building piece with at least one of the base assembly and one or

more of the other building pieces to form one or more buildings when the second

indicium on the building piece corresponds with the first indicium on the base

assembly.

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

a plurality of building pieces, a plurality of playing pieces, a plurality of base assemblies, at least one die, and a game board having a plurality of playing piece

receiving spaces, at least some of the playing piece receiving spaces include at least

one building piece indicium that corresponds to the building pieces. The method

playing pieces; selecting a base assembly having a second indicium from the plurality

of base assemblies, the second indicium corresponding with the first indicium; rolling

the at least one die; moving the playing piece to a first playing piece receiving space

having at least one building piece indicium based, at least in part, on the rolled die;

selecting a building piece that corresponds to the at least one building piece indicium

on the first playing piece receiving space from the plurality of building pieces, the

building piece having a third indicium; comparing the third indicium with at least one

of the first and second indicia; and engaging the building piece with at least one of the

base assembly and one or more other building pieces to form one or more buildings

when the third indicium on the building piece corresponds with at least one of the first

and second indicia.

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

building pieces, at least some of the building pieces are configured to engage one or

more other building pieces when manually assembled to form one or more buildings, a

first set of the building pieces each include a first indicium and a second set of the

building pieces each include a second indicium; and a plurality of base assemblies

configured to engage one or more of the building pieces and to provide foundations for the one or more buildings, the base assemblies include at least one of the first and

second indicia.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a building game.

Fig. 2 shows a plurality of building pieces of the game of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a plurality of base elements for a base assembly of the game of

Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows one of a plurality of reference boards for a base assembly of the

game of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a plurality of playing pieces of the game of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows a game board of the game of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 shows a die of the game of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of a method for playing the game of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of another method for playing the game of Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of the Disclosure

Referring to Fig. 1, a game 20 is shown and may include a plurality of building

pieces 22 and a plurality of base assemblies 24. Building pieces 22 may include any

suitable structure configured to represent components of any suitable object(s),

building(s), and/or structure(s). For example, the building pieces may depict and/or

represent castle pieces configured to form one or more two- and/or three-dimensional

castles, as shown in Figs. 1-2. Although building pieces 22 are shown to depict and/or represent castle pieces, the building pieces may be any suitable pieces configured to

form any suitable building(s) and/or structure(s).

Building pieces 22 also may be configured to engage and/or interlock one or

more other building pieces, such as when manually assembled, to form one or more

buildings 26. For example, the building pieces may include one or more interlocking

structures 28 configured to allow two or more building pieces to be interconnected, as

shown in Figs. 1-2. The interlocking structures may include one or more receiving

portions 30 (such as cutouts and/or notches) configured to receive one or more

portions of other building pieces and/or the base assemblies. Although interlocking

structures 28 are shown to include cutouts or notches, those structures may include

any suitable structure configured to allow the player to interconnect two or more

building pieces, and/or one or more building pieces with one or more base assemblies.

Additionally, building pieces 22 may include one or more building piece

indicia 32. The building piece indicia may include any suitable type of indicia

configured to correspond to and/or at least substantially match indicia on base

assemblies 24, and/or to convey any suitable information to the players. The building

piece indicia may be in any suitable form, such as numeric, text, alphanumeric,

symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. For example, building piece indicia

32 may include graphic images and/or object representations, which may correspond

to the graphic images and/or object representations on the base assemblies.

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

are one or more characteristics in common between the indicia. Although building piece indicia 32 are shown to be in the form of graphic images and/or object

representations, the indicia may be in any suitable form(s), including numeric, text,

alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination.

Additionally, the building piece indicia may be on any suitable side(s) of the

building pieces. For example, the building piece indicia may be only on one side, as

shown in Fig. 1. Moreover, one or more of the building pieces may include multiple

building piece indicia, which may correspond to multiple indicia on the base

assemblies. For example, a first set of the building pieces may each include a first

indicium and a second set of the building pieces may each include a second indicium.

Alternatively, or additionally, one or more of the building pieces may be designated in

any suitable way as "wild" pieces that may be played as if it contained some or all of

indicia of one or more of the base assemblies.

Moreover, building pieces 22 may be any suitable number configured to

construct any suitable number of buildings, such as sixteen pieces to build two

buildings. Furthermore, the building pieces may have any suitable shape and/or

ornamentation suitable for the game. For example, the castle pieces may have suitable

shapes and/or ornamentation to represent components of a castle, such as walls,

towers, beams, and/or flags. Furthermore, building pieces 22 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. Base assemblies 24 may include any suitable structure configured to engage

one or more of the building pieces, to provide a starting foundation for buildings 26,

and/or to provide the players guidance on what building pieces must be used to

construct the buildings. For example, the base assemblies may include one or more

base elements 34 and one or more reference boards 36, as shown in Figs. 3-4.

Base elements 34 may include any suitable structure configured to provide a

starting foundation for the building pieces. For example, the base elements may be in

the form of building bases 40, as shown in Fig. 3. The building bases may be

configured to engage and/or interlock with one another, with one or more of the

building pieces, and/or with one or more of the reference boards to form one or more

buildings 26. For example, the building bases may include one or more interlocking

structures 42 and one or more support structures 44.

The interlocking structures may include any suitable structure configured to

allow the bases to be interconnected and/or one or more bases and one or more

building pieces to be interconnected. For example, the interlocking structures may

include one or more receiving portions 46 (such as cutouts and/or notches) configured

to receive one or more portions of other base(s) and/or building piece(s), as shown in

Fig. 3. Although interlocking structures 42 are shown to include cutouts or notches,

those structures may include any suitable structure configured to allow the player to

interconnect two or more bases and/or one to interconnect or more building pieces and

one or more bases. Support structures 44 may include any suitable structure configured to allow

the bases to stand upright on one or more of their sides. For example, the support

structures may include one or more stands 48. Although support structures 44 are

shown to include stands 48, the support structures may include any suitable structure

configured to allow the bases to stand upright on one or more of their sides.

Additionally, although only three bases are shown, the base assembly may include

more or less bases.

Reference boards 36 may include any suitable structure configured to provide

the players guidance on what building pieces are needed to complete the buildings.

The reference boards may include one or more reference indicia 38, which may

correspond to and/or be at least substantially similar to the building piece indicia. The

reference indicia may be in any suitable form, such as numeric, text, alphanumeric,

symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. For example, reference indicia 38

may include graphic images and/or object representations, which may correspond to

the graphic images and/or object representations on the building pieces. For example,

the reference board shown in Fig. 4 includes graphic images of a knight's helmet and

a sword, which correspond to the graphic images on two of the building pieces shown

in Figs. 1-2. Although reference indicia 38 are shown to be in the form of graphic

images and/or object representations, the indicia may be in any suitable form(s),

including numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable

combination. Additionally, the reference boards may include one or more apertures 50

configured to receive one or more stands 48. Moreover, reference boards 36 may

include any suitable ornamentation to represent the starting foundation of the intended

structure. For example, the reference board may include a bridge and/or a

surrounding moat. The building bases may then be placed on the reference boards

(with the stands positioned within the apertures), and the appropriate building pieces

may be placed on the bases and/or each other during the game, as shown in Fig. 1.

Game 20 also may include a plurality of playing pieces 52, which may include

any suitable structure configured to be associated with players of the game. For

example, playing pieces may include character movers 54, as shown in Fig. 5. The

character movers may depict or represent a princess, a knight, an ogre, a wizard,

and/or any suitable characters from any suitable place and/or any suitable time period.

One or more of the character movers may be used and/or designated as a foiler

playing piece 55. For example, the character mover depicting the ogre may be used

and/or designated as the foiler playing piece. Although the ogre is discussed to be the

foiler playing piece, any of the playing piece(s) may be used as the foiler playing

piece(s).

The playing pieces also may be any suitable size and/or shape configured to

allow players of the game to grasp the playing piece. Additionally, playing pieces 52

may be any suitable number, such as the number of maximum players intended for the

game. Moreover, the playing pieces 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 playing pieces 52 are shown to include

character movers 54, those pieces may include any suitable structure configured to

represent suitable objects, devices, persons, structures, etc.

The playing pieces may include one or more character indicia 56. The

character indicia may include any suitable type of indicia configured to designate

particular building pieces that may belong to and/or may be associated with the

player's piece, and/or convey any suitable information to the players. Character

indicia 56 may be in any suitable form, such as numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic,

color, and/or any suitable combination. The character indicia may be in the form of

graphic images and/or object representations, such as hats, eyeglasses, swords,

shields, armor, belts, shoes, etc. For example, the helmet and sword shown on the

knight character mover shown in Fig. 5 correspond to the graphic images on two of

the building pieces shown in Figs. 1-2. Additionally, or alternatively, the tiara and

gown shown on the princess character mover may correspond to the graphic images

on other building pieces.

Although specific images are shown, the graphic images and/or object

representations may include images of any suitable objects, persons, things, devices,

structures, etc. Additionally, although character indicia 56 are shown to be in the

form of graphic images and/or object representations, the indicia may be in any

suitable form(s), including numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any

suitable combination. Moreover, the game may include at least one game board 58, which may

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

and/or to guide players on which of the building pieces to use in forming the one or

more buildings. The game board may include a plurality of playing piece receiving

spaces 60, which may include any suitable spaces configured to receive at least some

of playing pieces. The playing piece receiving spaces also may be distributed along

the game board in any suitable fashion. For example, the playing piece receiving

spaces may be distributed across at least a substantial portion of the playing area in

circular fashion. Additionally, any suitable number of playing piece receiving spaces

may be provided on the game board, which may be based, at least in part, on the

number of building pieces and/or the number of players.

Moreover, the playing piece receiving spaces may include one or more board

indicia 62 configured to guide players on the building pieces to be used. The board

indicia may be in any suitable form, such as numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic,

color, and/or any suitable combination. For example, board indicia 62 may include

graphic images and/or object representations of one or more of the building pieces.

Additionally, or alternatively, the board indicia may include graphic images of one or

more of the playing pieces to indicate a starting and/or ending space. Although a

game board is discussed, any suitable structure configured to receive at least some of

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

may alternatively, or additionally, be used. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more

surfaces, such as a desk(s) or a floor(s), may be used. Furthermore, game 20 may include at least one die 64. The die may be any

suitable shape. For example, die 64 is shown to have a cubical shape. Additionally,

die 64 may include a plurality of sides 66. Although die 64 is shown to be cubical

with six sides, the die may be any suitable shape with any suitable number of sides.

The sides may include die indicia 68 configured to guide players on moving the

playing pieces on the game board. The die indicia may be in any suitable form, such

as numeric, text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. For

example, die indicia 68 may include one or more numeric indicia 70 and one or more

iconic indicia 72 (such as foiler indicia), as shown in Fig. 7. Although die indicia 68

are shown to include the numeric and iconic indicia, the die indicia may be in any

suitable combination.

Although game 20 is shown to include the building pieces, the base assembly,

the playing pieces, the game board, and the die, the game may include any suitable

structure configured to provide a building game facilitated by one or more indicia, one

or more game boards, and/or one or more die.

A method 100 of playing some embodiments of the game is shown in Fig. 8. A

player may begin his or her turn at 102. That player may roll the at least one die at

104. The player may then check whether the rolled die shows a foiler icon at 106.

If the foiler icon is not rolled, then the player may move the playing piece

based, at least in part, on the rolled die (such as the number of spaces indicated on the

rolled die) at 108. The player may then view the playing piece receiving space occupied by the moved playing piece for indicia representing one or more building

piece shapes indicated at 110. That player may then select a building piece from the

plurality of building pieces that corresponds to the building piece shape indicia on the

space occupied by the playing piece at 112. The player may turn the selected building

piece face up at 114. The player may then compare the turned over building piece and

his or her playing piece (and/or his or her reference board) to determine if the building

piece has one or more indicia that correspond with one or more indicia on the playing

piece (and/or one or more indicia on his or her reference board) at 116.

If the building piece has corresponding indicia, then the player may engage the

building piece with one or more of the other building pieces and/or the base assembly

to form the one or more buildings at 1 18, and his or her turn may end at 120.

However, if the one or more indicia on the building piece fail to correspond with the

one or more indicia on the player's playing piece (and/or his or her reference board),

then the player may turn the building piece face down and return the building piece to

the plurality of building pieces at 122, and his or her turn may end at 120.

If the foiler icon is rolled, then a foiler playing piece may be moved any

suitable number of spaces (such as one space) at 124. The player may then view the

playing piece receiving space occupied by the moved foiler playing piece to determine

if any of the other playing pieces occupy the same space at 126. If the space that

includes the foiler playing piece is not occupied by any of the other playing pieces,

then the player's turn may end at 120. However, if the space that includes the foiler

playing piece is occupied by any of the other playing pieces (and/or if the foiler playing piece and one or more playing pieces occupy the same playing piece receiving

space), then the at least one die may be rolled at 128. The player may then check

whether the rolled die shows a foiler icon at 130.

If the foiler icon is not rolled, then the player's turn may end at 120. However,

if the foiler icon is rolled, then the player may remove a building piece from each of

the buildings associated with the playing pieces that occupy the same space as the

foiler playing piece at 132 and the player's turn may end at 120.

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

any suitable stopping point. For example, the game may be played until a building

has been completed. Alternatively, or additionally, the game may be played until a

player has reached a certain number of points based on any suitable scoring system

(with certain points associated with certain building pieces). Moreover, the game

may be played until a player has moved the playing piece to a particular playing piece

receiving space of the game board. Although particular stopping points have been

discussed, the method includes all suitable stopping points for the game, 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 game. For example, the building pieces may be placed with their

indicia face down and/or shuffled. Moreover, an order of play may be determined

before the game. The order of play may be based on any suitable order, such as by

descending or ascending age of the players. Furthermore, the players may select their playing pieces from the plurality of playing pieces and/or their base assemblies from

the plurality of base assemblies before beginning the game

Furthermore, the method may be modified in any suitable way to vary the

game. Such variation may increase, maintain, or decrease the game's challenge. For

example, the players may agree to a specific order of building pieces and/or object

representations that must be followed during the game. For example, the building

piece(s) with the walls may be required to be placed first and the building piece with

the flag may be required to be placed last on the building. Additionally, the players

may agree that if an out of sequence building piece is turned over, then the player may

not use that building piece and must turn it back down. For example, if the building

piece turned over has a flag, then the player may not use that piece unless he or she

has used all the other required building pieces.

Moreover, when the foiler playing piece lands on a playing piece receiving

space occupied by other playing piece(s), then building pieces may be removed

without rolling the die. Furthermore, more than one foiler playing piece and/or more

than two non-foiler playing pieces may be used. 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 game.

An alternative method 200 of playing some embodiments of the game is shown

in Fig. 9. A player may begin his or her turn at 202. That player may turn one or

more building pieces face up at 204. The player may then check if the building piece

turned over has matching indicia with his or her playing piece at 206. If the building piece does have matching indicia, then the player adds the

building piece to the building at 208 and his or her turn ends at 210. However, if that

building piece does not have matching indicia, then the player turns the building piece

face down at 212 and his or her turn ends at 210. The steps discussed above may be

performed in different sequences and in different combinations, not all steps being

required for all embodiments of the game.

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:

A Princess and a Knight are racing to build their castle. For who ever finishes building their castle first will become ruler of the land! But watch out, the mischievous Ogre who lives in the surrounding forest is trying to spoil their plans by making it difficult for the princess and knight to finish their task. Who will be victorious!

A game for 2 players or 2 teams!

Creative Construction Shape association

Contents:

6 Plastic Castle Bases 16 Castle Pieces 3 Flags 2 Item Boards

1 Game Board 3 Movers (princess, knight and ogre) I Die

THE OBJECT To win the game be the first player to construct a castle by collecting the 5 castle pieces that belong to their character.

Set Up:

1. Each player begins with a castle base that consists of 3 plastic castle pieces. 2 of which have securing posts at the bottom and 1 connector piece that does not. Assemble the castle bases by slotting together the 3 castle walls.

2. Once the 3 pieces have been slotted together each player selects an item board. Secure the castle base to the item board by sliding the feet forward into the holes.

3. Place the game board in the center of the playing area and lay out the castle playing face down around the board.

4. Place the game movers on the appropriate staring pieces, the knight and princess in the center of the mote and the ogre on the "foil" space, {waiting for icon}

5. Players choose to be either the knight or the princess.

6. Youngest player goes first.

Let's Play!

• Pictured on each item board are 3 items that your character is looking for.

On Your Turn:

1. Players take turns rolling the die and moving accordingly clockwise around the board. 2. Illustrated on each space is a different castle piece shape. Once you have moved your character the number rolled turn over any castle piece that matches the shape you have landed on. 3. When a player turns over a castle piece that shows one of their character's items add that piece to your castle any way you please.

4. If a player turns over a piece and the item showing does not belong to their character, they must leave the piece where it is and turn it back face down.

5. Then it' s the next player' s turn. Moving/Playing the Ogre

1. When a player rolls the Foil Icon move the Ogre 1 space clockwise.

2. If he happens to land on a space with another player he has the chance of stealing one of the castle pieces that belongs to that player. 3. To resolve the Ogre's mischievous behavior roll the die; a. If you roll a number, you do not have to give up any of your pieces. b. If you roll the foil icon you must give up one of your pieces. Take any piece from your castle and place it face down on the table with the rest of the castle pieces

Once you have collected 5 castle pieces, raise your flag by placing your flag piece anywhere on your castle and claim victory! You are now the ruler of all the land!

Winning the Game:

Be the first player to collect 5 castle pieces belonging to their character and build their castle to win.

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 ^ua" 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.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of playing a game, the game including a plurality of building

pieces and a plurality of playing pieces, comprising:

selecting a playing piece having a first indicium from the plurality of playing

pieces;

selecting a building piece having a second indicium from the plurality of

building pieces;

comparing the second indicium with the first indicium; and

engaging the building piece with one or more of the other building pieces to

form one or more buildings when the second indicium on the building piece

corresponds with the first indicium on the playing piece.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising returning the building piece

to the plurality of building pieces when the second indicium on the building piece fails

to correspond with the first indicium on the playing piece.

3. The method of claim 1, where the game further includes a plurality of

base assemblies, further comprising selecting a base assembly from the plurality of

base assemblies, and wherein engaging the building piece with one or more of the

other building pieces includes engaging the building piece with the base assembly to

form one or more buildings when the second indicium on the playing piece

corresponds with the first indicium on the building piece.

4. The method of claim 1, where the game further includes a plurality of

base assemblies, further comprising:

selecting a base assembly having a third indicium from the plurality of base

assemblies; and

engaging the building piece with the base assembly to form one or more

buildings when the second indicium on the building piece corresponds with the third

indicium on the base assembly.

5. The method of claim 1, where the game further includes at least one die

and a game board having a plurality of playing piece receiving spaces, at least some of

the playing piece receiving spaces include at least one building piece indicium that

corresponds to the building pieces, further comprising:

rolling the at least one die, and

moving the playing piece to a playing piece receiving space having at least one

building piece indicium based, at least in part, on the rolled die,

wherein selecting a building piece having a second indicium includes selecting

a building piece that corresponds to the at least one building piece indicium on the

playing piece receiving space.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a building piece

from the one or more buildings.

7. The method of claim 6, where the game further includes at least one die,

a foiler playing piece, and a game board having a plurality of playing piece receiving

spaces, further comprising:

rolling the at least one die, and

moving the foiler playing piece to a playing piece receiving space based, at

least in part, on the rolled die,

wherein removing a building piece from the one or more buildings includes

removing a building piece from the one or more buildings associated with a playing

piece when the playing piece and the foiler playing piece occupy the same playing

piece receiving space.

8. The method of claim 7, where the at least one die includes a plurality of

sides, one or more sides includes a foiler indicium, and wherein moving the foiler

playing piece to a playing piece receiving space includes moving the foiler playing

piece to a playing piece receiving space when a side with the foiler indicium is rolled

with the at least one die.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising rolling the at least one die

when the foiler playing piece is moved to a playing piece receiving space with one or

more playing pieces, and wherein removing a building piece from the one or more

buildings associated with a playing piece includes removing a building piece from the

one or more buildings associated with a playing piece when a side with the foiler

indicium is rolled with the at least one die.

10. A method of playing a game, the game including a plurality of building

pieces and a plurality of base assemblies, comprising:

selecting a base assembly having a first indicium from the plurality of base

assemblies;

selecting a building piece having a second indicium from the plurality of

building pieces;

comparing the second indicium with the first indicium; and

engaging the building piece with at least one of the base assembly and one or

more of the other building pieces to form one or more buildings when the second

indicium on the building piece corresponds with the first indicium on the base

assembly.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising returning the building piece

to correspond with the first indicium on the base assembly.

12. The method of claim 10, where the game further includes a plurality of

playing pieces, further comprising:

selecting a playing piece having a third indicium from the plurality of playing

pieces; and

engaging the building piece with at least one of the base assembly and one or

more other building pieces to form one or more buildings when the second indicium

on the building piece corresponds with the third indicium on the playing piece.

13. The method of claim 12, where the game further includes at least one

die and a game board having a plurality of playing piece receiving spaces, at least

some of the plurality of playing piece receiving spaces include at least one building

piece indicium that corresponds to the building pieces, further comprising

rolling the at least one die, and

moving the playing piece to a playing piece receiving space having at least one

building piece indicium based, at least in part, on the rolled die,

wherein selecting a building piece having a second indicium includes selecting

playing piece receiving space.

14. A method of playing a game, the game including a plurality of building

pieces, a plurality of playing pieces, a plurality of base assemblies, at least one die,

corresponds to the building pieces, comprising:

selecting a playing piece having a First indicium from the plurality of playing

pieces;

selecting a base assembly having a second indicium from the plurality of base

assemblies, the second indicium corresponding with the first indicium;

rolling the at least one die;

moving the playing piece to a first playing piece receiving space having at least

one building piece indicium based, at least in part, on the rolled die;

selecting a building piece that corresponds to the at least one building piece

indicium on the first playing piece receiving space from the plurality of building

pieces, the building piece having a third indicium;

comparing the third indicium with at least one of the first and second indicia;

and

engaging the building piece with at least one of the base assembly and one or

more other building pieces to form one or more buildings when the third indicium on

the building piece corresponds with at least one of the first and second indicia.

15. A game, comprising:

a plurality of building pieces, at least some of the building pieces are

configured to engage one or more other building pieces when manually assembled to

form one or more buildings, a first set of the building pieces each include a first

indicium and a second set of the building pieces each include a second indicium; and

a plurality of base assemblies configured to engage one or more of the building

pieces and to provide foundations for the one or more buildings, the base assemblies

include at least one of the first and second indicia.

16. The game of claim 15, wherein at least some of the building pieces are

configured to interlock with one or more other building pieces to form the one or more

buildings.

17. The game of claim 16, wherein at least some of the building pieces

include one or more receiving portions configured to receive a portion of at least some

of the other building pieces.

18. The game of claim 17, wherein the receiving portions include one or

more notches.

19. The game of claim 15, wherein the base assemblies each includes a

reference board having at least one of the first and second indicium.

20. The game of claim 19, wherein the base assemblies each includes one or

more base elements configured to engage one or more of the building pieces.

21. The game of claim 20, wherein the reference board includes one or more

receiving portions configured to receive one or more portions of the base elements.

22. The game of claim 15, wherein the one or more buildings includes one

or more three-dimensional castles.

23. The game of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of playing pieces

having at least one of the first and second indicia.

24. The game of claim 23, wherein the playing pieces depict at least one of a

princess, a knight, and an ogre.

25. The game of claim 23, further comprising a game board with a plurality

of playing piece receiving spaces, and at least one die.

26. The game of claim 25, wherein at least some of the playing piece

receiving spaces include building piece indicia that correspond with one or more of

the building pieces.