Method and article of manufacture for collectible game

Abstract

A game, toy or article of manufacture includes a set of rules and at least one model. The model has multiple movable parts, where under the rules of play, the model begins in an assembled configuration. As the model loses points under the rules of play, at least some of the parts are removed from the model, or replaced with substitute parts. The model may be formed from a panel or other substantially planar member, with the individual pieces formed therein. Methods of game play, computer-implemented games, and other aspects of the invention are described herein. Many other options are possible, as described above.

1 . A game system, comprising: 
 at least one panel of planar, substantially rigid material, having formed therein first and second sets of components,    wherein the first set of components includes at least three toy components that may be manually removed from a balance of the panel and manually assembled into a toy without need for glue or external fasteners, and    wherein the second set of components includes at least two randomizer components that may be manually removed and manually assembled into an randomizer object without need for glue or external fasteners, wherein the randomizer object is configured to provide one of several random values when the randomizer object is actuated by a player;    at least one accessory that may be manually removed from the panel and removably attached to the assembled toy; and    a set of game rules;    wherein the randomizer object is associated with the accessory and is for use under the game rules, wherein the assembled toy may be employed in a game defined by the game rules, and wherein a predetermined value derived from actuation of the randomizer object by the player negatively affects an opponent toy associated with an opponent player so that one of multiple components of the opponent toy is removed.    
   
   
       2 . The game system of  claim 1 , further comprising another panel of planar, substantially rigid material, having formed therein third and fourth sets of components, 
 wherein the third set of components includes at least three toy components that may be manually removed from a balance of the panel and manually assembled into another toy without need for glue or fasteners;    wherein the fourth set of components includes at least two randomizer components that may be manually removed and manually assembled into another randomizer object without need for glue or fasteners;    at least another accessory that may be manually removed from the panel and removably attached to the assembled toy; and    wherein the panel and the another panel are packaged for separate distribution and have differing levels of rarity in distribution; and    wherein the another accessory is associated with the another randomizer and has a differing effect on game play than the accessory and the randomizer.    
   
   
       3 . The game system of  claim 1  wherein the second set of components and the accessory are formed in a second panel, wherein the accessory includes a third set of components formed in the second panel that may be manually removed and assembled into the accessory without need for glue or fasteners and wherein at least some of the components are modular with respect to other components so that they may be interchangeable.  
   
   
       4 . A game process, comprising: 
 rule means for defining a goal and a series of actions of play for achieving the goal between two or more players;    component means for generating a model for one player from multiple components without use of glue or permanent fasteners, wherein at least some of the multiple components may be readily removed and reattached to the model;    at least one accessory means for furthering the game goal under at least some of the series of actions of play, wherein the accessory may be readily removed and reattached to the model;    means for generating a random value and furthering the goal under at least some of the series of actions of play between the two or more players; and    wherein the game process includes, 
 upon occurrence of an negative event, removing the accessory or one of the multiple components of the model by one of the players, or  
 replacing the accessory or one of the multiple components of the model with a substitute accessory or component, respectively.  
   
   
   
       5 . The game process of  claim 4 , wherein the accessory means further comprises: 
 weapon means for inflicting damage on an opponent player's model or accessory means under the rule means and in furtherance of the goal, and wherein the weapon means is configured to be removably secured to the model; and    armor means for protecting the model against damage inflicted by the weapon means, and wherein the armor means is configured to be removably secured to the model.    
   
   
       6 . The game process of  claim 4  wherein the means for generating a random value generates a random number when actuated, and wherein the means for generating a random value is composed of three or more pieces manually assembled by one of the players, without use of glue or permanent fasteners, and in a manner similar to how the component means for generating a model is assembled from the multiple components.  
   
   
       7 . The game process of  claim 4  wherein the multiple components and the at least one accessory means are formed within a panel of planar, substantially rigid material, and may be manually removed from the panel.  
   
   
       8 . The game process of  claim 4 , wherein the multiple components, the means for generating a random value, and the at least one accessory means are packaged for distribution as a unit, and wherein the unit has one of at least three distribution categories, wherein the three distribution categories are common, uncommon and rare, which correspond respectively to three levels of distribution rarity.  
   
   
       9 . A method of playing a game, comprising: 
 manually assembling a toy base from multiple components by at least one of two players of the game, wherein the multiple components of the toy base are formed as generally-planar pieces;    removably securing at least one accessory to a location on the toy base, wherein the accessory is used under predetermined rules of play;    generating a random number and playing the game according to the predetermined rules of play;    upon occurrence of an negative event under the predetermined rules of play, removing the accessory or one of the multiple components of the toy base, or replacing the accessory or one of the multiple components of the toy base with a substitute accessory or component, respectively; and    repeating the generating a random number and the removing the accessory, under the predetermined rules of play, until one of the two players of the game wins the game at least in part because of the removing the accessory or one of the multiple components of the toy base, or replacing the accessory or one of the multiple components of the toy base with a substitute accessory or component.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising customizing the toy base by substituting at least some of the multiple components with other components associated with another toy base.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising manually assembling a random number generator from two or more pieces of substantially flat material.  
   
   
       12 . A game process, comprising: 
 a set of rules of play under the game process; and    at least one model having multiple, manually removable parts, wherein the game process includes, under the rules of play, 
 beginning the model in an assembled configuration, and  
 as the model loses points under the rules of play, removing at least some of the parts from the model, or replacing some of the parts with substitute parts on the model;  
 wherein the model is manually assembled into the assembled configuration from the multiple parts, and wherein at least some of the multiple parts are substantially flat.  
   
   
   
       13 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one piece of equipment and at least one random value generator, wherein the equipment is associated with a function under the rules of play, and wherein the function is associated with at least one predetermined value or symbol derived from the random value generator.  
   
   
       14 . The game process of  claim 12  wherein as the model loses at least one point under the rules of play, at least one of the parts is replaced with a corresponding substitute part on the model, wherein the substitute part depicts damage with respect to the replaced part.  
   
   
       15 . The game process of  claim 12  wherein the removable parts are configured with mating slots and grooves to be assembled by hand to create the model.  
   
   
       16 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a weapon accessory that many be manually and removably attached to the toy to provide damage to an opponent's toy under the rules of play; and    at least one armor accessory that many be manually and removably attached to the toy to defend against damage under the rules of play.    
   
   
       17 . The game process of  claim 12  wherein the model represents a vehicle or a robot.  
   
   
       18 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 at least one accessory that many be manually and removably attached to the toy and that provides a function under the rules of play; and    a random value generator associated with the at least one accessory, wherein the accessory and value generator share a similar common color.    
   
   
       19 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 at least one accessory that many be manually and removably attached to the toy and that provides a function under the rules of play; and    a random value generator associated with the at least one accessory, wherein the accessory and value generator have a common symbol visually present on both the accessory and value generator.    
   
   
       20 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising a spinner for generating a random value under the rules of play, wherein the spinner includes at least two pieces that are manually assembled by a player.  
   
   
       21 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising a die for generating a random value under the rules of play, wherein the die includes at least two pieces that are manually assembled by a player.  
   
   
       22 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a complex random value generator having multiple pieces that are manually assembled by a player; and    at least one accessory that many be manually and removably attached to the toy, that provides a function under the rules of play, that is associated with the complex random value generator, and that is distributed with the complex random value generator in fewer quantities than other accessories with associated random value generators.    
   
   
       23 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising a random value generator for randomly generating one value from a set of values, and having multiple pieces that may be manually assembled by a player into a first configuration that provides a first set of odds associated the set of values, and into a second configuration that provides a second set of odds associated the set of values.  
   
   
       24 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising a set of self-adhesive labels for customizing the toy.  
   
   
       25 . The game process of  claim 12  wherein the toy has a first set of graphics applied thereto, and wherein the game further comprises: 
 another toy substantially identical to the toy, but having a second set of graphics applied thereto.    
   
   
       26 . The game process of  claim 12  wherein the toy has a first set of graphics applied thereto, wherein the toy with the first set of graphics is distributed in fewer quantities than other toys with a second set of graphics.  
   
   
       27 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one armor accessory that many be manually and removably attached to the toy to defend against damage under the rules of play, wherein the armor includes a dial to track points.  
   
   
       28 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 first and second weapon accessories, wherein the first weapon provides a greater amount of damage than the second weapon, but wherein the first weapon more rarely inflicts damage than the second weapon.    
   
   
       29 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 first and second weapon accessories that are respectively associated with differing first and second ranges.    
   
   
       30 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 at least one accessory; and    a pack enclosing at least the toy and accessory as a unit, and being randomly collated from other toys and accessories in distribution.    
   
   
       31 . The game process of  claim 12 , further comprising a single stock keeping number associated with the toy and other distributed toys that are related to the rules of play.  
   
   
       32 . A game system associated with published rules of play defining a game method, comprising: 
 at least one toy selected from a set of multiple toys,    wherein the toy is for use in the game and has at least two base parts and at least one function part,    wherein the at least two base parts are configured to be manually assembled by a user,    wherein the function part is configured to be manually attached to the assembled base parts, and wherein the function part is employed under the rules of play;    wherein packaging encloses the at least two base parts and the function part as a unit for distribution or sale, wherein the packaging obscures or does not convey to a purchaser which of the multiple toys is enclosed within the packaging, and wherein each toy in the set of toys is randomly distributed for sale; and    wherein the rules of play defining the game method comprises: 
 beginning a round of the game method with the at least two base parts manually assembled by the user and the function part manually attached to the assembled base parts, wherein the at least two base parts are formed from substantially flat material, and  
 when losing under the game method, removing at least one of the two base parts or the function part, or replacing one of the at least two base parts or function part with a substitute part.  
   
   
   
       33 . A computer-readable medium whose contents cause at least one data processing device to perform a method of playing a game with respect to at least one other data processing device, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a set of virtual objects;    receiving user input to create a chassis from at least some of the virtual objects;    associating at least one accessory to the chassis, wherein the accessory is selected from the set of virtual objects and is used to further game objectives under predetermined rules of play;    receiving user input and moving at least the chassis according to the predetermined rules of play;    generating a random number and playing the game according to the predetermined rules of play;    upon occurrence of an negative event under the predetermined rules of play, removing the accessory or one of the multiple objects of the chassis, or replacing the accessory or one of the multiple objects of the chassis with a substitute accessory or object, respectively; and    repeating the steps of generating a random number and removing the accessory, under the predetermined rules of play, until a winner of the game is determined at least in part because of the removing of the accessory or one of the multiple components of the chassis, or replacing the accessory or one of the multiple components of the chassis with a substitute accessory or component.    
   
   
       34 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory of the data processing device, and the chassis is a vehicle.  
   
   
       35 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the computer-readable medium is a computer-readable disk.  
   
   
       36 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9  wherein the data processing device is a mobile telecommunications device, and the computer-readable medium is a memory of the mobile telecommunications device.