Game device and method

Abstract

A game device ( 10 ) includes a housing ( 12 ) mounted on a base ( 14 ). The housing ( 12 ) includes a stack ( 30 ) of activity cards ( 28 ). The activity cards are individually dispensed from a dispenser assembly ( 25 ). Each activity card includes a set of instructions ( 138 ) instructing the player to carry out a game activity. The activity card also includes a uniform resource locator address and instructions ( 140 ) for the user to access an interactive computer network to obtain further information and data to enable the user to complete the activity.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A game comprising: 
 a dispenser;    a plurality of activity cards disposed in the dispenser, each activity card being marked with a first set of instructions describing an activity to be completed by a player, and a source locator address accessible by the player over an interactive computer network to obtain a second set of instructions or data to facilitate the player's furtherance or completion of the activity.    
     
     
         2 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein the activity cards comprise flexible paper sheets.  
     
     
         3 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of instructions are printed on a first side of each activity card, further comprising data printed on a second side of each activity card.  
     
     
         4 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein the data printed on the second side of the activity card comprises invitational data that invites the data to dispense the activity card and commence game play.  
     
     
         5 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein the data printed on the second side of the activity card comprises factual information that relates to the activity described by the first set of instructions on the first side of the card.  
     
     
         6 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser defines a slot through which the activity cards are dispensed on an individual basis.  
     
     
         7 . The game of  claim 6 , further comprising a spring loaded platform mounted within the dispenser that biases the activity cards toward the slot.  
     
     
         8 . The game of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one activity implement, wherein the dispenser further defines a first reservoir for receiving the at least one activity implement, the activity implement being usable by the user to carry out at least some of the activities described on the activity cards.  
     
     
         9 . The game of  claim 8 , wherein the activity implement comprises a molding compound.  
     
     
         10 . The game of  claim 8 , wherein the activity implement comprises a plurality of die.  
     
     
         11 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein each dice is marked with lettering.  
     
     
         12 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of activity cards each include a first side and a second side, further comprising a gum adhesive strip applied to a portion of one side of each card, the cards being assembled in a stack with the adhesive strip of each card being detachably adhered to an adjacent card, the cards being separable by peeling the cards apart to detach the adhesive without damage to the cards.  
     
     
         13 . The game of  claim 12 , in which the adhesive strips of adjacent cards are disposed on opposite sides of the cards relative to each other, such that the stack of cards forms a detachably adhered Z-fold stack.  
     
     
         14 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of instructions of at least some of the activity cards require the use of desktop implements.  
     
     
         15 . The game of  claim 1 , further comprising a desktop implement holder assembled with the dispenser.  
     
     
         16 . The game of  claim 15 , wherein the implement holder comprises a resilient elastomeric memory foam.  
     
     
         17 . The game of  claim 1 , further comprising a base on which the dispenser may be selectively placed and which supports the dispenser.  
     
     
         18 . The game of  claim 17 , wherein the base includes a desktop implement holder for receiving desktop implements.  
     
     
         19 . The game of  claim 17 , wherein the base includes a clip adapted for receiving and displaying photographs.  
     
     
         20 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of instructions obtained at the source locator address invites the player to participate in an extended or further game activity that occurs over the interactive computer network.  
     
     
         21 . The game of  claim 20 , wherein the extended or further game activity progresses over a predetermined period of time, and results in a message conveying an update as to game status being sent by electronic mail to an interactive network access device that is accessible by the player.  
     
     
         22 . A game, comprising: 
 a housing defining a dispenser; and    a plurality of activity cards disposed in the dispenser, each activity card being marked with invitational information and with a set of instructions describing an activity to be completed by a player, the activity varying for each card, a first one of the activity cards projecting from the dispenser so as to display the invitational information marked thereon to induce a player to remove the first activity cards to review the set of instructions marked thereon, removal of the first activity card automatically advancing a second one of the activity card to display the invitational information marked thereon.    
     
     
         23 . The game of  claim 22 , wherein the dispenser defines a slot through which the activity cards are dispensed on an individual basis.  
     
     
         24 . The game of  claim 23 , further comprising a spring loaded platform mounted within the dispenser that biases the activity cards toward the slot.  
     
     
         25 . The game of  claim 22 , further comprising an activity implement, stored in the receptacle of the housing, and manipulable by the user to carry out at least some of the activities described on the plurality of activity cards.  
     
     
         26 . The game of  claim 25 , wherein the activity implement comprises a molding compound.  
     
     
         27 . The game of  claim 25 , wherein the activity implement comprises a plurality of die.  
     
     
         28 . The game of  claim 27 , wherein each dice is marked with lettering.  
     
     
         29 . The game of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of activity cards each include a first side and a second side, further comprising a gum adhesive strip applied to a portion of one side of each card, the cards being assembled in a stack with the adhesive strip of each card being detachably adhered to an adjacent card, the cards being separable by peeling the cards apart to detach the adhesive without damage to the cards.  
     
     
         30 . The game of  claim 29 , in which the adhesive strips of adjacent cards are disposed on opposite sides of the cards relative to each other, such that the stack of cards forms a detachably adhered Z-fold stack.  
     
     
         31 . A game system playable by a user who accesses an interactive computer network via a network access device, comprising: 
 a plurality of activity cards, each activity card being marked with a first set of instructions describing an activity to be completed by a player and a source locator address accessible by the player using the network access device over the interactive computer network to obtain a second set of instructions or data to facilitate the player's furtherance or completion of the activity; and    a network server that serves up data including the second set of instructions over the interactive computer network to the source locator address for access by the player.    
     
     
         32 . The game system of  claim 31 , wherein the data served up by the network server includes an invitation to the player to participate in an on-line game activity that occurs over a predetermined period of time, the network server providing progress updates on the on-line game to the player over the interactive computer network to the player's network access device.  
     
     
         33 . A game comprising: 
 a plurality of activity cards, each activity card having a first side and a second side, and at least one side of each card being marked with game information, the game information marked on each card being different from the game information marked on at least a majority of the other cards;    a gum adhesive strip applied to a portion of one side of each card, the cards being assembled in a stack with the adhesive strip of each card being detachably adhered to an adjacent card, adjacent cards being separable by peeling the cards apart to detach the adhesive strip without damage to the cards.    
     
     
         34 . The game of  claim 33 , in which the adhesive strips of adjacent cards are disposed on opposite sides of the cards relative to each other, such that the stack of cards forms a detachably adhered Z-fold stack.  
     
     
         35 . The game of  claim 33 , wherein the game information marked on the first side of each card comprises factual data.  
     
     
         36 . The game of  claim 35 , wherein the game information marked on the first side of each game activity card includes invitational information inviting a player to access the card.  
     
     
         37 . The game of  claim 33 , wherein the game information is marked on a second side of each card and includes instructions for carrying out an activity.  
     
     
         38 . The game of  claim 37 , wherein the second side of each card is also marked with a source locator address accessible by the player over an interactive computer network to obtain a second set of instructions or data to facilitate the player's completion of the activity.  
     
     
         39 . A game comprising: 
 a display media for presenting one of a plurality of instruction sets to a game player, each instruction set describing an activity to be completed by a player, the instruction set also including a source locator address accessible by the player over an interactive computer network to obtain a second set of instructions or data to facilitate the player's furtherance or completion of the activity; and    means for controlling the display media to dispense an instruction set to a player.    
     
     
         40 . The game of  claim 39 , wherein the display media comprises a plurality of activity cards, and the plurality of instruction sets are printed on the activity cards, and wherein the means for controlling comprises a dispenser assembly activated by a player.  
     
     
         41 . The game of  claim 39 , wherein the display media is, electronic and the means for controlling includes a processor for controlling the display media and a port for receiving data to be displayed on the display media.  
     
     
         42 . A game comprising: 
 a housing;    an electronic display in the housing for displaying one of a plurality of sets of instructions, each instruction set describing an activity to be completed by a player, and a source locator address accessible by the player over an interactive computer network to obtain a second set of instructions or data to facilitate the player's furtherance or completion of the activity;    a controller for controlling the display; and    a port for providing data to the controller and the display to generate the instruction sets.    
     
     
         43 . A method of playing a game comprising: 
 providing a first set of instructions to a player, the first set of instructions describing an activity to be completed by a player;    providing a source locator address accessible by the player over an interactive computer network to obtain a second set of instructions or data to facilitate the player's furtherance or completion of the activity; and    providing the second set of instructions or data to the interactive computer network source locator address to be accessed by the player.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the first set of instructions are provided on an activity card, further comprising dispensing one of a plurality of activity cards, each including a corresponding set of instructions.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising providing a selected one of a plurality of sets of instructions for activities, each instruction set being displayed on an electronic display.