Branching Storyline Game

Abstract

A storytelling game is disclosed, including game components and rules for playing a game for at least one player. The goal of the storytelling game is to work through a story to a successful ending by choosing amount possible story directions at story branch points. The game may include the use of an electronic card reader and multiple story cards. At least one of the story cards may contain an embedded digital memory. Several chapters in an extended story may be provided by several card sets, which may be obtained independently.

1 . A system for the generation of a branching storyline, comprising:
 a set of cards including a first indicia card, a second indicia card, and a data card, each of the indicia cards including a portion of the storyline thereon, the data card having a plurality of icons and a memory containing a portion of the storyline; and   a hand-held electronic device, comprising:
 a housing defining a receptacle into which the data card can be inserted, the icons on the inserted data card being visible to the user; 
 a plurality of input devices, each input device being aligned with one of the icons on the inserted data card; 
 an output device coupled to the housing; and 
 a processor operable to cause the output device to generate a first portion of the storyline and present several choices relating to different branches of the storyline to follow the first portion, the first portion being the portion stored in the data card memory, each of the choices being associated with one of the input devices, the selection of an input device by the user resulting in the identification of a second portion of the storyline, the processor operable to cause the output device to present information regarding the second portion of the storyline. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the storyline is stored in the memory of the data card, and the processor is operable to retrieve the second portion of the storyline and cause the output device to generate the second portion of the storyline. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the storyline is located on the first indicia card, and the information includes instructions for the user to read the second portion of the storyline from the first indicia card. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first indicia card includes a plurality of icons, each of the icons on the first indicia card is associated with a potential third portion of the storyline, and the processor is operable to receive a selection of one of the icons on the first indicia card by the user to identify the selected third portion of the storyline. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions regarding the second portion of the storyline include instructions regarding which of the first or second indicia cards or a second data card is to be used for the second portion. 
     
     
         6 . A method of generating a story using a hand-held electronic device and a set of cards including at least a data card containing a memory in which a portion of the storyline is stored, the hand-held electronic device including a housing having a reader, a receptacle in which the first data card may be inserted, and a plurality of inputs, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving the data card in the receptacle of the hand-held electronic device;   accessing the memory of the data card to retrieve the portion of the storyline stored therein;   outputting the portion of the storyline;   presenting to the user choices of how the storyline can continue;   receiving data representing the particular choice selected by the user; and   outputting further information relating to the storyline.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the set of cards includes a first indicia card and a second indicia card, each of the indicia cards including a portion of the storyline thereon, and the step of outputting further information includes outputting instructions for the user to read the portion of the storyline on one of the first indicia card or the second indicia card. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
 receiving a code from the user, the code being located on the first indicia card or second indicia card that is read by the user.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the data card is a first data card, the set of cards includes a second data card and a third data card, each of the second or third data cards including a memory in which another portion of the storyline is stored, and the step of outputting further information includes outputting instructions identifying which of the second data card or the third data card to insert into the electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 accessing the memory of the inserted second or third data card to retrieve a portion of the storyline stored therein; and   outputting the portion of the storyline from the inserted second or third data card.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the inserted second or third data card includes a plurality of icons, each of the icons on the inserted second or third data base is aligned with an input on the housing, the choices are a first plurality of choices, and the method further comprises the step of:
 presenting to the user a second plurality of choices of how the storyline can continue;   receiving data representing the selected one of the second plurality of choices from the user; and   outputting additional information relating to the storyline determined by the selected one of the second plurality of choices.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of receiving data includes receiving a signal associated with one of the inputs on the electronic reader. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the data card is a first data card, the set of cards includes a first indicia card and a second data card, and the outputting further information includes outputting instructions regarding which of the first indicia card or the second data card is to be used next in the storyline. 
     
     
         14 . A method of generating a story using a hand-held electronic device including a housing with a card reader unit, a receptacle, a plurality of input devices, and an output device, comprising:
 accessing a memory of a first data card inserted in the receptacle, the memory containing a first portion of the story therein;   generating an output containing the first portion of the story;   receiving from a user a selection of one of a first plurality of choices of a portion of the story to follow the first portion of the story; and   outputting instructions to the user regarding how to proceed based on the selected choice.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions include instructions to replace the first data card and to insert a second data card into the receptacle of the electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 accessing a memory of the second data card inserted into the receptacle, the memory containing a second portion of the story therein;   generating an output containing the second portion of the story; and   presenting to the user a second plurality of choices of a subsequent portion of the story.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 outputting additional instructions to the user regarding how to proceed based on the selection of one of the second plurality of choices.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions direct the user to read a portion of the story located on a first indicia card. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first indicia card includes a plurality of icons, and the method further comprises the step of:
 receiving from the user an input of a choice associated with one of the icons on the first indicia card.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions direct the user as to which of a plurality of indicia cards and a plurality of data cards is to be used for a next portion of the story.