Sudoku-Type Game

Abstract

A plurality of Sudoku-type games are provided within a single matrix, using one or more “key cells” for presenting to the player the number of different answers possible for the respective cell. A scoring system is included to yield different scores for the different game outcomes. In accordance with the invention, game publishers can accommodate players of different skill levels with a single matrix, players can choose the level of difficulty of the selected game, and a each matrix can yield several games for the player to solve.

1 . A Sudoku-style game for use by a human player comprising:
 a game board surface presented to the player and having an M×N matrix of cells, each of said cells having sufficient space to contain a visually perceivable symbol, wherein M represents the number of rows in the matrix, and N represents the number of columns in the matrix,   a solution to the game being the completion of the cell matrix by the player so that no symbol is repeated more than a respective instructed number of times in each row and column,   a plurality of the cells having respectively assigned symbols presented to the player at the commencement of the game,   at least one key cell for presenting to the player the number of possible symbols for that cell,   whereby the same game board presents the player with a board having multiple solutions.   
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 1  including means for visually subdividing said M×N cell matrix onto a second matrix of blocks,
 the solution to the game being the completion of the cell matrix by the player so that no symbol is repeated more than a respective instructed number of times in each row, column and block.   
   
   
       3 . The game of  claims 1  or  2  wherein the symbols for at least one key cell leading to respective solutions of the puzzle are presented to the player. 
   
   
       4 . The game of  claim 1  or  2  wherein a symbol is placed within at least one key cell informing the player of the number of different solution-related symbols that occupy the key cell for the multiple solutions. 
   
   
       5 . The game of  claim 1  or  2  including visually identifiable scoring cells placed within the matrix from which a score can be derived by the player in accordance with the value of the symbols in the scoring cells 
   
   
       6 . The game of  claim 1  or  2  including a symbol appearing in a key cell that indicated the level of the game's difficulty. 
   
   
       7 . The game of  claim 1  or  2  wherein the symbols presented to the player at the commencement of the game are in a font that is larger than the font of the other symbols presented within cells to the player. 
   
   
       8 . The game of  claim 1  or  2  wherein symbols presented to the player in at least one cell at the commencement of the game to indicate the number of different symbols that can appear in the cell are presented to the player in a smaller font than the other symbols presented within cells to the player. 
   
   
       9 . The game of  claim 8  wherein the symbols indicating the number of different symbols are presented to the player within an off-centered position within the respective cell. 
   
   
       10 . The game of  claim 4  wherein a plurality of symbols are presented within the same cell to a player to indicate the symbol in the cell for each particular solution of the puzzle.