Electronically configurable games

Abstract

A game has a plurality of game elements, in which at least one of the game elements is configured to reflect a current event. The configured game element is electronically transferred from a game provider to a game receiver and printed by the game receiver.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A game comprising: 
 a plurality of game elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of game elements is configured to reflect an event or a person;    wherein the at least one game element is electronically transferred from a game provider to a game receiver and printed by the game receiver; and    wherein the event is separated from the game receiver printing the at least one configured game element by no more than 12 months.    
     
     
         2 . The game of    claim 1    wherein the current event is separated from the game receiver printing the at least one game element by no more than 3 months.  
     
     
         3 . The game of    claim 1    wherein the current event is separated from the game receiver printing the at least one game element by no more than 2 weeks.  
     
     
         4 . The game of    claim 1    wherein the game element is selected from the group consisting of a game board, a card, and a token.  
     
     
         5 . The game of    claim 1    wherein the game provider configures the at least one of the game elements.  
     
     
         6 . The game of    claim 5    wherein the game receiver further configures the at least one of the game elements.  
     
     
         7 . The game of    claim 1    wherein the current event is selected from the group consisting of a political event, an award ceremony, a sport event, and a monetary event.  
     
     
         8 . The game of    claim 1    wherein the at least one configured game element is transferred from the game provider to the game receiver via a computer network.  
     
     
         9 . The game of    claim 1    wherein at least two of the plurality of game elements are configured to reflect the current event.  
     
     
         10 . The game of    claim 1    wherein all of the plurality of game elements are configured to reflect the current event.  
     
     
         11 . The game of    claim 1    further comprising a random number generator.  
     
     
         12 . A game comprising: 
 a plurality of game elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of game elements is configured in response to an instruction by a game receiver; and    wherein the at least one game element is electronically transferred from a game provider to the game receiver and printed by the game receiver.    
     
     
         13 . The game of    claim 12    wherein the instruction comprises configuration of the game element to reflect at least one of a locale, a person, and a current event.  
     
     
         14 . A method of playing a game comprising: 
 providing a plurality of game elements;    configuring at least one of the plurality of game elements to reflect an event or a person;    electronically transferring the at least one configured game element from a game provider to a game receiver and printing the at least one configured game element, wherein the current event is separated from the game receiver printing the at least one configured game element by no more than 12 months; and    interrelating the plurality of game elements according to a game rule.    
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 14    wherein the game elements are selected from the group consisting of a game board, a card, and a token.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 14    wherein the game provider performs the step of configuring.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 16    wherein the game receiver further configures the at least one of the game elements.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 14    wherein the current event is selected from the group consisting of a political event, an award ceremony, a sport event, and a monetary event.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 14    wherein the step of electronically transferring comprises transfer of the at least one configured game element via a computer network.  
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 14    wherein the step of printing is selected from the group consisting of laser printing, dye sublimation printing, and bubble-jet printing.