Method and apparatus for playing a game

Abstract

A method and apparatus for playing a game, where at step ( 100 ), a game piece is selected, where the game piece has a first distinguishing feature. At step ( 110 ), the game piece is placed in a position associated with a scoring device. In this example, the scoring device has a second distinguishing feature. Accordingly, at step ( 120 ), a score is obtained with respect to the relationship between the first distinguishing feature and the second distinguishing feature.

1 . An apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus including:
 a) a game piece, the game piece having a first distinguishing feature; and,   b) a scoring device, the scoring device having a second distinguishing feature;   wherein the game piece is placed in a position associated with the scoring device and a score is obtained in accordance with a relationship between the first distinguishable feature and the second distinguishing feature.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the scoring device is a docking apparatus, the docking apparatus being configured to receive a plurality of game pieces in a stack. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the stack is a vertical stack. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first distinguishing features of the plurality of game pieces are horizontally aligned with a corresponding array of second distinguishing features of the docking apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the most recently stacked game piece is accessible and/or playable. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each player of the game has a docking apparatus and the plurality of game pieces stacked for each player is visible to each other player. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first and/or second distinguishing features for a player are not visible to each other player. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second distinguishing feature includes any one or a combination of:
 a) a marking;   b) a physical attribute;   c) a picture;   d) a coloured face; and,   e) a symbol.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the game piece includes any one or a combination of:
 a) a card;   b) a block; and,   c) a sphere.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the relationship between the first and second distinguishing feature is a positional relationship, and the score is obtained depending on the position of the game piece in respect of the second distinguishing feature. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the game piece is placed next to the second distinguishing feature on the scoring device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the scoring is dependent on a matching of the first distinguishing feature with the second distinguishing feature. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a high score is obtained if there is a direct match between the first distinguishing feature and the second distinguishing feature. 
     
     
         14 . A method of playing a game, the method including the steps of:
 a) selecting a game piece, the game piece having a first distinguishing feature;   b) placing the game piece in a position associated with a scoring device, the scoring device having a second distinguishing feature; and   c) obtaining a score in according with a relationship between the first distinguishing feature and the second distinguishing feature.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the game includes a plurality of players, each of the plurality of players performing steps (a) to (c). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the method further includes selecting the game piece from a pool of game pieces. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further includes any one or a combination of:
 a) retrieving and/or swapping the game piece with a replacement game piece from the pool;   b) removing a game piece from the placement and placing the game piece into the pool.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , where the game is a virtual game and the method is performed by a processing system.