Method and apparatus for playing block-stacking game

Abstract

A method for playing a block-stacking game is executed in an apparatus showing an array and blocks of different types and allowing at least one player to stack the blocks in the array. The blocks are displayed in the array in sequence, and only one block is moved from a top side toward a bottom side of the array in a period of time. After stacking, adjacent blocks of the same type are erased. The apparatus includes an input module allowing at least one player to input control command for executing the method, an operational module receives control command from the input module, and a display module. The operational module includes an operational section that executes operational procedures of the method and a storage section that stores resultant data of the operational procedures. The display module receives result output by the operational module and displays the result to the player.

1 . A method for playing a block-stacking game, the method being executed in an apparatus for playing the block-stacking game showing an array and a plurality of blocks and allowing at least one player to stack the plurality of blocks in the array;
 wherein the plurality of blocks are displayed in the array in sequence, and only one of the plurality of blocks is moved from a top side of the array toward a bottom side of the array in a period of time, and a player is capable of controlling movement of said one of the plurality of blocks in the period of time; and   wherein the plurality of blocks are of a plurality of types, and the blocks of the same type adjacent to each other after stacking are erased.   
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the following steps of:
 (1) displaying the array by a plurality of location units and at least one input unit of the apparatus, with the plurality of location units and said at least one input unit being initially set to be block-free, and with the plurality of blocks forming a remaining block sequence;   (2) identifying whether a remaining number of blocks of the remaining block sequence is greater than zero, wherein step (3) is carried out if the remaining number of blocks of the remaining block sequence is greater than zero, and wherein the game ends and score calculation is carried out if the remaining number of blocks of the remaining block sequence is equal to zero;   (3) identifying whether each said at least one input unit is filled with a block, wherein the game ends and score calculation is carried out if each said at least one input unit is filled with a block, and wherein step (4) is carried out if one or more of said at least one input unit are not filled with a block;   (4) removing one of the plurality of blocks from the remaining block sequence and displaying said one of the plurality of blocks in one of said at least one block input unit that is free of block;   (5) showing movement of said one of the plurality of blocks by said plurality of location units and said at least one input unit, with said one of the plurality of blocks being moved through an input module by a player, and with said one of the plurality of blocks being moved toward the bottom side of the array to an adjacent location unit within a falling time if said one of the plurality of blocks is not moved;   (6) identifying whether said one of the plurality of blocks lands on the bottom side or is in contact with another one of the plurality of blocks, wherein step (7) is carried out if said one of the plurality of blocks lands on the bottom side or is in contact with another one of the plurality of blocks, and wherein step (5) is carried out if said one of the plurality of blocks does not land on the bottom side nor is in contact with another one of the plurality of blocks;   (7) identifying whether said one of the plurality of blocks is in contact with another one of the plurality of blocks of a type the same as that of said one of the plurality of blocks, wherein step (8) is carried out if said one of the plurality of blocks is in contact with another one of the plurality of blocks of the same type, and wherein said step (2) is carried out if said one of the plurality of blocks is not in contact with another one of the plurality of blocks of another type;   (8) erasing the blocks adjacent to each other and of the same type, and moving the remaining blocks between the erased blocks and the top side toward the bottom side until the remaining blocks come in contact with the bottom side or another block; and   (9) identifying whether adjacent blocks in the remaining blocks in the array are of the same type, wherein said step (8) is carried out if said adjacent blocks in the remaining blocks in the array are of the same type, and wherein said step (2) is carried out if said adjacent blocks in the remaining blocks in the array are of different types.   
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one input unit is at the top side of the array. 
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the remaining block sequence is formed by the plurality of blocks of the plurality of types with a preset ratio in random order. 
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the falling time is decreased when the remaining number of blocks decreases. 
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the score calculation includes the following steps of:
 (a) calculating a minimum stacking height of the blocks from the bottom side to the top side in the array;   (b) obtaining a scoring height and a horizontal index line most adjacent to the scoring height; and   (c) displaying one of the scoring height and a result of the game by the display module.   
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for playing a block-stacking game, comprising:
 an input module allowing at least one player to input control command for executing a method for playing a block-stacking method;   an operational module including an operational section and a storage section, the operational module receiving control command from the input module, the operational section executing operational procedures of the method for playing a block-stacking method, and the storage section storing resultant data of the operational procedures; and   a display module receiving result output by the operational module and displaying the result to said at least one player.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the display module is a screen, a flat panel display, or a light-emitting diode display device. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the screen includes a plurality of figures and a plurality of colored blocks filling the figures for representing operational result of the operational module. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the flat panel display includes a plurality of figures and a plurality of colored blocks filling the figures for representing operational result of the operational module. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the light-emitting diode display device includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes that are turned on and off and that emit lights of different colors to represent operational result of the operational module. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the colored blocks of the screen include a plurality of colors corresponding to those of the types of the blocks. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the colored blocks of the flat panel display include a plurality of colors corresponding to those of the types of the blocks. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the lights emitted by the light-emitting diodes include a plurality of colors corresponding to those of the types of the blocks.