Game Method and Apparatus, Including Word Game With Hand-Held Scrambling Device

Abstract

A method of playing a game includes scrambling letters, presenting identical sets of the letters in scrambled form in multiple display areas for viewing by multiple players of the game, and communicating a first word formed by a player from the scrambled letters, the first word having a minimum number of characters.

1 . A method of playing a game, comprising:
 scrambling letters;   presenting identical sets of the letters in scrambled form in multiple display areas for viewing by multiple players of the game; and   communicating a first word formed by a player from the scrambled letters, the first word having a minimum number of characters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of playing a game of  claim 1 , wherein the minimum number of characters is four. 
     
     
         3 . The method of playing a game of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the first word includes calling out the first word. 
     
     
         4 . The method of playing a game of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the first word includes providing one or more inputs representing the first word to a computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of playing a game of  claim 1 , further including:
 starting an interval of time; and communicating before expiration of the interval of time a second word formed from the scrambled letters, the second word having more characters than the first word.   
     
     
         6 . The method of playing a game of  claim 1 , wherein the interval of time is thirty seconds. 
     
     
         7 . The method of playing a game of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the second word includes calling out the second word. 
     
     
         8 . The method of playing a game of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the second word includes providing one or more inputs representing the second word to a computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of playing a game of  claim 1 , wherein the second word is communicated by a different player than the player who communicated the first word. 
     
     
         10 . The method of playing a game of  claim 1 , further including:
 awarding a point to the player who communicates a longest word that players of the game can form from the scrambled letters.   
     
     
         11 . A method of playing a game, comprising:
 initiating a mechanical scrambling of game pieces within a game device;   causing the mechanical scrambling of the game pieces to end by placing the game device on a surface which forces the game pieces upward into the game device and into stationary positions such that letters on the game pieces are aligned; and   communicating a word that can be formed from letters that are visible on the game pieces.   
     
     
         12 . The method of playing a game of  claim 11 , wherein initiating the mechanical scrambling includes shaking the game device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of playing a game of  claim 11 , wherein the word is a minimum number of characters in length. 
     
     
         14 . The method of playing a game of  claim 13 , wherein the minimum number of characters is four. 
     
     
         15 . The method of playing a game of  claim 11 , wherein communicating a word includes taking turns communicating successively longer words that can be formed from the letters. 
     
     
         16 . The method of playing a game of  claim 15 , wherein communicating a word includes providing a time limit by which a player must communicate a next word. 
     
     
         17 . The method of playing a game of  claim 16 , wherein the time limit is thirty seconds. 
     
     
         18 . The method of playing a game of  claim 11 , wherein communicating includes pronouncing the word. 
     
     
         19 . The method of playing a game of  claim 11 , wherein communicating includes correctly pronouncing the word. 
     
     
         20 . The method of playing a game of  claim 11 , further including:
 awarding a point to the player who communicates a longest word that players of the game can form from the letters.   
     
     
         21 . A method of playing an electronic game, comprising:
 causing a computer-executable program to control one or more video displays to present a randomly ordered arrangement of letters;   identifying a first word that can be formed from the letters, the first word having a minimum number of characters;   providing an input that causes the computer-executable program to control the one or more video displays to present a timer; and   attempting to identify a word longer in length than the first word before a time interval presented by the timer expires.   
     
     
         22 . The method of playing an electronic game of  claim 21 , wherein the randomly ordered arrangement of letters is identically presented at multiple video displays. 
     
     
         23 . The method of playing an electronic game of  claim 21 , wherein the randomly ordered arrangement of letters includes eight letters. 
     
     
         24 . The method of playing an electronic game of  claim 21 , wherein the minimum number of characters is four. 
     
     
         25 . The method of playing an electronic game of  claim 21 , wherein the time interval is thirty seconds. 
     
     
         26 . The method of playing an electronic game of  claim 21 , further including:
 awarding one or more points to a player who identifies a longest word that can be formed by players of the game from the letters.   
     
     
         27 . The method of playing an electronic game of  claim 21 , wherein the computer-executable program controls the one or more video displays to present a score and controls a system for allowing a player to change the score. 
     
     
         28 . The method of playing an electronic game of  claim 27 , wherein the system for allowing a player to change the score includes a system for selectively incrementing or decrementing the score. 
     
     
         29 . The method of playing an electronic game of  claim 27 , wherein the system for allowing a player to change the score is enabled after the timer expires. 
     
     
         30 . The method of playing an electronic game of  claim 21 , wherein the computer-executable program controls a system for allowing a player to initiate a next round resulting in a new randomly ordered arrangement of letters being presented at the one or more video displays. 
     
     
         31 . A method for controlling a video game, comprising:
 providing a processor with access to a computer-executable program which, when executed by the processor, controls the video game to
 present a randomly ordered arrangement of visible indicia of one or more types selected from a group including letters, characters, numbers, symbols, and images, and 
 present a timer in response to a start timer input provided to the video game by a player. 
   
     
     
         32 . The method for controlling a video game of  claim 31 , wherein the computer-executable program controls the video game to present a new randomly ordered arrangement of the visible indicia in response to a next round input provided by the player. 
     
     
         33 . The method for controlling a video game of  claim 31 , wherein the computer-executable program controls the video game to present a score and to provide a system for allowing the player to change the score. 
     
     
         34 . The method for controlling a video game of  claim 31 , wherein the computer-executable program presents the randomly ordered arrangement of visible indicia at multiple video displays. 
     
     
         35 . The method for controlling a video game of  claim 31 , wherein the computer-executable program is configured to receive player inputs from multiple players. 
     
     
         36 . The method for controlling a video game of  claim 31 , wherein the computer-executable program is configured to receive player inputs provided via a personal computer. 
     
     
         37 . The method for controlling a video game of  claim 31 , wherein the computer-executable program is configured to receive player inputs provided via a hand-held electronic game apparatus. 
     
     
         38 . The method for controlling a video game of  claim 31 , wherein the computer-executable program is configured to receive player inputs provided via a mobile communications device. 
     
     
         39 . The method for controlling a video game of  claim 31 , wherein the computer-executable program controls the video game utilizing a network communications protocol. 
     
     
         40 . The method for controlling a video game of  claim 31 , wherein the computer-executable program controls the video game utilizing an instant messaging technique. 
     
     
         41 . A game apparatus, comprising:
 an electronic device with a display, the electronic device being configured to present on the display
 a randomly ordered arrangement of visible indicia of one or more types selected from a group including letters, characters, numbers, symbols, and images, and 
 a visible timer, in response to a start timer input provided to the electronic device by a player. 
   
     
     
         42 . The game apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the electronic device is configured to present a new randomly ordered arrangement of the visible indicia in response to a next round input provided by the player. 
     
     
         43 . The game apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the electronic device is configured to present a score and to provide a system for allowing the player to change the score. 
     
     
         44 . The game apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the electronic device is a hand-held unit that includes a system for providing a player input to the game apparatus. 
     
     
         45 . The game apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile communications device. 
     
     
         46 . The game apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the electronic device is configured to establish a communications link to a network. 
     
     
         47 . The game apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the communications link is wireless. 
     
     
         48 . The game apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the network includes the Internet. 
     
     
         49 . The game apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the electronic device is configured to receive inputs from multiple players at least one of which is remotely located in relation to the electronic device. 
     
     
         50 . The game apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the electronic device is configured to present a list of all possible combinations and arrangements of the visible indicia that comply with a set of game rules. 
     
     
         51 . In a game apparatus that facilitates scrambling game pieces, the improvement comprising:
 a structure that aligns the game pieces in an arrangement facilitating ergonomic viewing of the game pieces by a player when the game apparatus is placed upon a surface.   
     
     
         52 . In a game apparatus that facilitates scrambling game pieces, the improvement of  claim 51 , wherein an angle formed by the game pieces and the surface is approximately 60 degrees. 
     
     
         53 . In a game apparatus that facilitates scrambling game pieces, the improvement of  claim 51 , wherein the structure aligns the game pieces to be top side up in relation to the player. 
     
     
         54 . A game apparatus, comprising:
 game pieces which are scrambled by operation of the game apparatus; and   means, engaged by placing the game apparatus upon a surface, for automatically aligning the game pieces in an arrangement facilitating ergonomic viewing of the game pieces.   
     
     
         55 . The game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the game pieces are hexagonally shaped. 
     
     
         56 . The game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the game pieces bear visible indicia. 
     
     
         57 . The game apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein the arrangement of the game pieces provides multiple identical sets of the visible indicia. 
     
     
         58 . The game apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the multiple identical sets of the visible indicia are each presented at a different viewing perspective. 
     
     
         59 . The game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the means for automatically aligning the game pieces include receiving channels into which the game pieces are seated when the game apparatus is placed upon the surface. 
     
     
         60 . The game apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the receiving channels include windows. 
     
     
         61 . The game apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the means for automatically aligning the game pieces include a rod adjacent to the receiving channels, the rod passing through an aperture of each of the game pieces. 
     
     
         62 . The game apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the rod is positioned sufficiently far from the receiving channels and the apertures are sufficiently large in size to permit the game pieces to rotate about the rod when the game apparatus is lifted from the surface. 
     
     
         63 . The game apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the apertures are substantially circular in shape. 
     
     
         64 . In a game apparatus in which multiple game pieces are scrambled, the improvement comprising:
 a structure that sets the game pieces into positions resulting in multiple identical arrangements of visible indicia on the game pieces being simultaneously presented.   
     
     
         65 . In a game apparatus in which multiple game pieces are scrambled, the improvement of  claim 64 , wherein the multiple identical arrangements of visible indicia are presented at different viewing perspectives. 
     
     
         66 . In a game apparatus in which multiple game pieces are scrambled, the improvement of  claim 64 , wherein the structure is configured to set the game pieces in response to the game apparatus being placed upon a surface. 
     
     
         67 . A game apparatus, comprising:
 game pieces which are scrambled by operation of the game apparatus, the game pieces including visible indicia; and   a structure for setting a scrambled arrangement of the game pieces providing dual simultaneous displays of the visible indicia.   
     
     
         68 . The game apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the dual simultaneous displays of the visible indicia are each presented at a different viewing perspective. 
     
     
         69 . The game apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the game pieces are hexagonally shaped. 
     
     
         70 . The game apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the structure is configured to set the game pieces in response to the game apparatus being placed upon a surface. 
     
     
         71 . The game apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein an angle formed by the game pieces and the surface is approximately 60 degrees. 
     
     
         72 . The game apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein the structure includes receiving channels into which the game pieces are seated when the game apparatus is placed upon the surface. 
     
     
         73 . The game apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the receiving channels include windows. 
     
     
         74 . The game apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the structure includes a rod adjacent to the receiving channels, the rod passing through an aperture of each of the game pieces. 
     
     
         75 . The game apparatus of  claim 74 , wherein the rod is positioned sufficiently far from the receiving channels and the apertures are sufficiently large in size to permit the game pieces to rotate about the rod when the game apparatus is lifted from the surface. 
     
     
         76 . The game apparatus of  claim 74 , wherein the apertures are substantially circular in shape. 
     
     
         77 . A game apparatus, comprising:
 a housing with a display portion that includes receiving channels;   a plurality of game pieces laterally supported by the receiving channels, each game piece being hexagonal in shape and including a circular inner surface, the game pieces having outer surfaces that are blank or bear visible indicia; and   a rod secured to the housing and configured to support the game pieces adjacent to the circular inner surfaces, the rod being positioned a sufficient distance away from the display portion and the game pieces having a sufficiently large inner diameter such that the game pieces are fully seated within the receiving channels and set in position when an engaging force is applied to the game pieces and such that the game pieces are partially disengaged from the receiving channels and free to rotate about the rod when the engaging force is removed.   
     
     
         78 . The game apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the housing includes an open bottom portion configured to permit the engaging force to be provided by contact between the game pieces and a surface upon which the game apparatus is placed. 
     
     
         79 . The game apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the receiving channels each include
 a top side that is approximately the same length as the outer surface of the game pieces, and   second and third sides adjacent to the top side that are longer than the outer surface of the game pieces, the second and third sides being substantially parallel to the outer surfaces facing the second and third sides respectively when the game pieces are fully seated within the receiving channels.   
     
     
         80 . The game apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the display portion includes windows through which some of the outer surfaces of the game pieces can be viewed when the game pieces are fully seated within the receiving channels. 
     
     
         81 . The game apparatus of  claim 80 , wherein the windows are configured in two rows along opposite sides of the display portion. 
     
     
         82 . The game apparatus of  claim 81 , wherein the game pieces are configured with the visible indicia such that identical combinations of the visible indicia are visible through the windows of each row. 
     
     
         83 . The game apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the plurality of game pieces constitutes eight game pieces. 
     
     
         84 . The game apparatus of  claim 77 , further including:
 a handle secured to the housing.   
     
     
         85 . The game apparatus of  claim 84 , wherein the handle includes a compartment, and further including a timer sized to be fitted within the compartment. 
     
     
         86 . The game apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the timer is an hourglass. 
     
     
         87 . A game apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of hexagonal ring game pieces that each include six outer surfaces, the outer surfaces selectively bearing visible indicia; and   a housing including receiving channels complementary in shape to the hexagonal ring game pieces, the housing including windows through which one or more rows of the outer surfaces can be viewed when the hexagonal ring game pieces are positioned within the receiving channels.   
     
     
         88 . The game apparatus of  claim 87 , wherein the windows form an angle of approximately 60 degrees with a bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
         89 . The game apparatus of  claim 87 , wherein the windows are configured such that first and second rows of the outer surfaces can be viewed along opposite sides of the housing. 
     
     
         90 . The game apparatus of  claim 89 , wherein the game pieces are configured with the visible indicia such that the first and second rows of the outer surfaces include identical combinations of the visible indicia. 
     
     
         91 . The game apparatus of  claim 87 , further including:
 a structure for mechanically coupling the hexagonal ring game pieces to the housing such that the hexagonal ring game pieces are fully seated within the receiving channels and set in position when an engaging force is applied to the hexagonal ring game pieces and such that the hexagonal ring game pieces are partially disengaged from the receiving channels and free to rotate in relation to the windows when the engaging force is removed.   
     
     
         92 . The game apparatus of  claim 91 , wherein the structure for mechanically coupling includes a rod that supports the hexagonal ring game pieces. 
     
     
         93 . The game apparatus of  claim 92 , wherein the hexagonal ring game pieces each include a circular inner surface adjacent to the rod. 
     
     
         94 . The game apparatus of  claim 91 , wherein the housing includes an open bottom portion configured to permit the engaging force to be provided by contact between the hexagonal ring game pieces and a surface upon which the game apparatus is placed. 
     
     
         95 . The game apparatus of  claim 87 , wherein the game apparatus includes a score keeping mechanism that can be manually manipulated by a player. 
     
     
         96 . The game apparatus of  claim 87 , further including:
 a handle secured to the housing.   
     
     
         97 . A game apparatus, comprising:
 a housing containing game pieces which are scrambled by repositioning the housing;   a handle secured to the housing, the handle including a compartment; and   a timer sized to fit within the compartment.   
     
     
         98 . The game apparatus of  claim 97 , wherein the timer is an hourglass. 
     
     
         99 . The game apparatus of  claim 97 , further including:
 a structure for setting a scrambled arrangement of the game pieces.   
     
     
         100 . The game apparatus of  claim 99 , wherein the scrambled arrangement of the game pieces includes dual identical displays presented at different viewing perspectives. 
     
     
         101 . The game apparatus of  claim 99 , wherein the structure is configured to set the game pieces in response to the game apparatus being placed upon a surface. 
     
     
         102 . The game apparatus of  claim 101 , wherein an angle formed by the game pieces and the surface is approximately 60 degrees. 
     
     
         103 . The game apparatus of  claim 101 , wherein the structure includes receiving channels into which the game pieces are seated when the game apparatus is placed upon the surface. 
     
     
         104 . The game apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the receiving channels include windows. 
     
     
         105 . The game apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the structure includes a rod adjacent to the receiving channels, the rod passing through an aperture of each of the game pieces. 
     
     
         106 . The game apparatus of  claim 105 , wherein the rod is positioned sufficiently far from the receiving channels and the apertures are sufficiently large in size to permit the game pieces to rotate about the rod when the game apparatus is lifted from the surface. 
     
     
         107 . A game apparatus, comprising:
 a set of hexagonal rings for a scramble game, the hexagonal rings including outer surfaces that are blank or bear visible indicia, the visible indicia being arranged along the outer surfaces such that pairs of the visible indicia that are spaced a predetermined number of outer surfaces apart are identical but inverted in orientation.   
     
     
         108 . The game apparatus of  claim 107 , wherein the outer surfaces are substantially flat. 
     
     
         109 . The game apparatus of  claim 107 , wherein the predetermined number is one. 
     
     
         110 . The game apparatus of  claim 107 , wherein the set includes eight hexagonal rings. 
     
     
         111 . The game apparatus of  claim 107 , wherein the hexagonal rings each include an aperture. 
     
     
         112 . The game apparatus of  claim 111 , wherein the apertures are circular. 
     
     
         113 . The game apparatus of  claim 107 , wherein the visible indicia are of one or more types selected from a group including letters, characters, numbers, symbols, and images. 
     
     
         114 . The game apparatus of  claim 107 , wherein one or more of the hexagonal rings of the set include only consonants as the visible indicia. 
     
     
         115 . The game apparatus of  claim 107 , wherein one or more of the hexagonal rings of the set include only vowels as the visible indicia. 
     
     
         116 . The game apparatus of  claim 107 , wherein one or more of the hexagonal rings of the set include a mixture of consonants and vowels as the visible indicia. 
     
     
         117 . A method of solo game play, comprising:
 (a) providing a player with a scramble of letters;   (b) awarding one or more points to the player for each qualifying word identified by the player in the scramble of letters depending upon scoring rules; and   (c) repeating (a) and (b) for a number of rounds, aggregating points awarded to the player to provide a final score after a last round is played.   
     
     
         118 . The method of solo game play of  claim 117 , wherein the scramble of letters includes eight letters. 
     
     
         119 . The method of solo game play of  claim 117 , wherein the scoring rules provide that one or more points are awarded only for the longest qualifying word identified in each round. 
     
     
         120 . The method of solo game play of  claim 117 , wherein the scoring rules provide that one or more points are awarded for all qualifying words identified in each round. 
     
     
         121 . The method of solo game play of  claim 117 , wherein the scoring rules provide that each qualifying word have a minimum number of letters. 
     
     
         122 . The method of solo game play of  claim 121 , wherein the minimum number of letters is four. 
     
     
         123 . The method of solo game play of  claim 117 , wherein the scoring rules provide that the number of rounds is ten. 
     
     
         124 . The method of solo game play of  claim 117 , wherein each of the rounds has a time limit within which the player must identify one or more qualifying words. 
     
     
         125 . The method of solo game play of  claim 124 , wherein the time limit is thirty seconds.