Game with miniature collectible game piece figurines used as random outcome generators

Abstract

This invention discloses collectible game pieces used as random outcome generators and designed in the form of miniature figurines that are cast onto a playing surface to land in one of multiple stable orientations for various embodiments of games of chance and strategy. Also disclosed is a novel game and method of game play utilizing the collectible game pieces.

1 . A collectable game piece comprising a generally figurine-shaped playing piece adapted to land in any one of a plurality of stable orientations when cast onto a flat playing surface wherein each stable orientation represents a different game play value and a probability outcome of landing in any one of the plurality of stable orientations is unequal. 
   
   
       2 . The collectible game piece of  claim 1 , wherein the collectible game piece comprises an omnidirectional rollable random outcome generator that approximates a sphere having a geometry such that a substantial number of outer points lie on a surface of the sphere. 
   
   
       3 . The collectible game piece of  claim 1 , wherein each of the stable orientations comprise from one to four contact points between the game piece and the flat playing surface when the collectible game piece is cast and comes to a landing. 
   
   
       4 . The collectable game piece of  claim 1 , wherein the figurine comprises a three-dimensional game piece having the general form of a character selected from the group consisting of an animal, a human, a humanoid type character, a fictitious character, a mythical character, a comic book character, a martial arts character, a science fiction character, a historical based character, a political character, an entertainment celebrity and a sports celebrity. 
   
   
       5 . The collectible game piece of  claim 1 , wherein the game piece is formed of an elastomer. 
   
   
       6 . The collectible game piece of  claim 5 , wherein the elastomer is a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer. 
   
   
       7 . The collectible game piece according to  claim 6 , wherein the elastomer has a Shore A Hardness reading range of from 30 to 45 when measured by a durometer. 
   
   
       8 . A random outcome generator system comprising a game piece component and a reference source component wherein:
 the game piece component comprises a standard die or a collectible game piece of  claim 1 ,   the game piece component produces a random outcome when cast onto a flat playing surface,   the reference source component has data concerning the plurality of stable positions and game play values and is selected from the group consisting of a set of game rules, a reference card, a game (trading) card and a website,
 the reference source component is randomly selected, and 
   the reference source component operates in conjunction with the game piece component according to a set of game rules to generate a random outcome game value.   
   
   
       9 . A random outcome generator game piece in the form of a three dimensional figurine having a central body core with a plurality of appendages and having uneven probabilities for a roll when cast onto a flat playing surface. 
   
   
       10 . The random outcome generator game piece of  claim 9 , wherein the figurine is adapted to land in any one of a plurality of stable orientations when cast onto a playing surface wherein each stable orientation represents a different game play value. 
   
   
       11 . The random outcome generator game piece of  claim 9 , wherein the figurine comprises a transverse plane and a sagittal plane and wherein a center of mass of the figurine lies along the sagittal plane such that the figurine is equally balanced on opposite sides of the transverse plane and the sagittal plane respectively. 
   
   
       12 . The random outcome generator game piece of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the appendages is adapted to receive a game piece accessory thus making a probability outcome of the random outcome generator game piece variable. 
   
   
       13 . The random outcome generator game piece of  claim 12 , wherein the game piece accessory in combination with the appendage changes the center of mass of the random outcome generator game piece such that a probability of the game piece landing in one stable orientation is increased when the game piece is cast onto the playing surface. 
   
   
       14 . The random outcome generator game piece of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the appendages is selectively positionable into at least two discrete positions thus making a probability outcome of the random outcome generator game piece variable. 
   
   
       15 . The random outcome generator game piece of  claim 14 , wherein the appendage may be positioned such that the center of mass of the random outcome generator game piece is changed thereby causing the probability of the game piece landing in one stable orientation to increase when the game piece is cast onto the playing surface. 
   
   
       16 . The random outcome generator game piece of  claim 9 , wherein the figurine comprises a top, a bottom, a back and a front thereof, a left side and a right side thereof, and wherein a height from the top to the bottom of the figurine along the sagittal plane is from 10 to 30 millimeters, a width along the transverse plane from the left to the right side of the figurine is from 7 to 17 millimeters, and a depth from the back to the front of the figurine is from 5 to 20 millimeters and a ratio of the height to the width is 5:3. 
   
   
       17 . A game of chance, comprising game components for each player consisting of a set of game rules, at least one collectible game piece of  claim 1  and a plurality of mating game cards, wherein
 each collectible game piece has a plurality of stable orientations wherein each stable orientation represents a different game play value and a probability outcome of landing in any one of the plurality of stable orientations is unequal,   each collectible game piece produces a random outcome when cast onto a flat playing surface, and   the game play value represents a simulated interaction of the collectible game pieces according to the set of game rules,   
     and wherein the game of chance is played according to the set of game rules providing that the collectible game pieces are cast onto a flat playing surface such that the game pieces come to rest in any one of the plurality of stable orientations, thereby obtaining a roll value, wherein the mating game cards modify the roll value when the game cards are put into play, and at least one mating game card is put into play by placing it onto the flat playing surface to modify the game play value for the roll such that the card play into play in combination with the collectible game piece roll overcomes the unequal probabilities of the game piece roll. 
   
   
       18 . The game of chance of  claim 17  wherein the at least one collectible game piece of  claim 1  comprises a plurality of game pieces having an elasticity measuring a Shore A Hardness reading range of from 30 to 45 when measured by a durometer and each game piece of the plurality of game pieces comprises a game character having a unique three dimensional shape, a unique stance, a plurality of unique extremities, a plurality of unique touch points, and a plurality of unique stable orientations, and each game character further has a rarity index created by a combination of the set of game rules and distribution of a predetermined number of the game character thus creating collectability of the collectible game pieces. 
   
   
       19 . A method for playing a game, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining at least one collectible game piece of  claim 1  for each player, a plurality of cards for each player, and a flat playing surface, wherein the cards comprise collectible game cards that correspond to the collectible game piece;   designating an active player and at least one opposing player;   performing a draw round wherein the active player draws a predetermined number of cards from the top of his deck and places the cards in his hand and the at least one opposing player draws a predetermined number of cards from the top of his deck and places the cards in his hand;   performing a ready round wherein the active player selects a predetermined number of cards from his hand and places the cards onto the flat playing surface and the at least one opposing player selects a predetermined number of cards from his hand and places the cards onto the flat playing surface;   performing a challenge round wherein the active player and the at least one opposing player cast a collectible game piece onto the flat playing surface and play select cards of choice;   performing a resolution round wherein the active player and the at least one opposing player will determine the results;   determining whether a victory condition has been satisfied and if yes, then the game is ended, and if not play continues to the next step;   performing a player status change wherein one of the at least one opposing player becomes the active player; and   repeating the draw round, ready round, challenge round and resolution round until the active player has achieved a victory condition.   
   
   
       20 . A method of playing a game comprising the steps of:
 a. providing game components for each player consisting of at least one collectible game piece of  claim 1  and a plurality of mating game cards, wherein each collectible game piece produces a random outcome when cast onto a flat playing surface, and the game play value represents a simulated interaction of the collectible game pieces according to a set of game rules,   b. casting the collectible game pieces onto a flat playing surface such that the game pieces come to rest in any one of the plurality of stable orientations, thereby obtaining a game play value for a roll,   c. putting at least one of the mating game cards into play by placing it on the flat playing surface and modifying the game play value for the roll, and   d. determining whether a victory condition has been satisfied and if yes, then the game is ended, and if not, play continues by repeating the casting the collectible game pieces step and the putting mating game cards into play step until a victory condition has been satisfied.   
   
   
       21 . The method of playing a game of  claim 20 , wherein the flat playing surface comprises a mating game mat. 
   
   
       22 . The method of playing a game of  claim 21 , wherein the mating game mat has a plurality of game play modifying locations thereon such that when a collectible game piece is cast onto the mating game mat, it comes to rest at one of the plurality of game play modifying locations and modifies the game play value of the collectible game piece. 
   
   
       23 . A method of playing a game comprising the steps of:
 a. providing game components for each player consisting of at least one collectible game piece of  claim 1  and a plurality of mating game cards, wherein each collectible game piece produces a random outcome when cast onto a flat playing surface, and the game play value represents a simulated interaction of the collectible game pieces according to a set of game rules, and wherein the mating game cards have indicia representing the plurality of stable positions of the collectible game pieces and game play values of the collectible game piece,   b. casting the collectible game pieces onto a flat playing surface such that the game pieces come to rest in any one of the plurality of stable orientations, thereby obtaining a game play value for a roll,   c. referencing the mating game cards to determine the play value of the roll,   d. determining whether a victory condition has been satisfied and if yes, then the game is ended, and if not, play continues by repeating the casting the collectible game pieces step and the referencing mating game cards step until a victory condition has been satisfied.   
   
   
       24 . A rollable game piece comprising a random outcome generator having a visual aspect that is generally figurine-shaped, and constructed having a plurality of stable unique static orientations;
 a rolling probability associated with each of the plurality of stable unique static orientations that is determined by a geometry and a center of gravity of the rollable game piece; and   the geometry and the center of gravity are selected such that a predetermined probability is associated with each of the plurality of stable unique static orientations corresponding to a posture of the figure.   
   
   
       25 . The rollable game piece of  claim 24  wherein the rollable game piece is adapted to receive a unique static state blocking game piece accessory such that when a unique static state blocking game piece accessory is removably affixed to the rollable game piece, at least one roll possibility is physically blocked, thus making a probability outcome of the random outcome generator game piece variable.