Word game and method for play

Abstract

A game where a player attempts to determine a plurality of answers from a plurality of clues, where each of the answers is a combination of text characters forming one or more words, and each clue has a first component which is a hint suggesting the corresponding answer and a second component which is a plurality of answer fragments which when combined in the proper order spell out the corresponding answer, where the answer fragments of all the clues are scrambled in relation to each other.

1 . A game comprising
 a plurality of answers,
 with each answer comprised of a plurality of text characters, and 
 with each answer distinct from each other answer; and 
   a plurality of clues, such that there is a one-to-one correspondence of answers and clues,
 with each clue associated with one of the plurality of answers such that each answer has one clue associated with said answer, and 
 with each clue consisting of a first clue component and a second clue component,
 with the first clue component of each clue consisting of a unique hint that suggests the answer associated with said clue, and 
 with the second clue component of each clue consisting of a plurality of answer fragments, with each said answer fragment comprising one or more text characters corresponding to a subset of consecutive text characters contained in the answer associated with said clue, said text characters of said answer fragment of said second clue component arranged in an order corresponding to the subset of corresponding consecutive text characters of said answer, 
 wherein the plurality of answer fragments are scrambled in relation to each other; 
 
   whereby the game is played on an electronic device having a user interface,   with the game being embodied in a computer software program capable of being operated by said electronic device,   with each of the plurality of the first clue components being displayed to a player of the game on the user interface of the electronic device,   with each of the plurality of answer fragments of each of the plurality of the second clue components being displayed to the player on the user interface of the electronic device, and   whereby the game is played by the player using the user interface of the electronic device to select a subset of the plurality of answer fragments, each of said answer fragments selected in a particular order such that the selected subset of the plurality of answer fragments when viewed sequentially in the order of selection spell out a result which corresponds to one of the plurality of answers, then repeating one or more times, as needed, each time selecting another subset of the plurality of answer fragments to correspond to another of the plurality of answers, until all of the answers have been correctly determined by the player.   
     
     
         2 . The game of  claim 1  wherein
 at least one of the plurality of answers has a different number of text characters than at least one other answer; 
 at least one of the answer fragments associated with any clue contains a different number of text characters than at least one other answer fragment associated with any clue; and 
 at least one of the answers has associated with it a different number of answer fragments than the number of answer fragments associated with at least one other answer. 
 
     
     
         3 . The game of  claim 1  wherein each answer is comprised of a plurality of alphabetic characters, such that the characters spell out a word. 
     
     
         4 . The game of  claim 3  wherein one or more of said answers further comprises one or more space characters, such that the answers containing space characters spell out two or more words, each word within said answer separated from an adjacent word by a space character. 
     
     
         5 . The game of  claim 1  wherein each said clue further consists of a third clue component, with said third clue component being a numeric indication of the number of text characters contained in the answer corresponding to said clue. 
     
     
         6 . The game of  claim 1  wherein each said answer fragment of the second clue component of each clue is comprised of a different subset of consecutive text characters than are contained in each other answer fragment of said second clue component, whereby the aggregate of the text characters contained in the plurality of answer fragments associated with said second clue component of each said clue corresponds to the plurality of text characters of the answer corresponding to said clue. 
     
     
         7 . The game of  claim 1  wherein one or more spurious answer fragments not corresponding to any answer are randomly distributed among the plurality of answer fragments corresponding to the plurality of answers. 
     
     
         8 . The game of  claim 1  wherein at least one but fewer than all of the first clue components are displayed to the player of the game while two or more answers remain undetermined by the player. 
     
     
         9 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the user interface of the game
 enables the player to select answer fragments, 
 displays the answer fragments selected by the player in the order selected, 
 enables the player to signal that an assessment of the selected answer fragments is to be performed to determine whether the answer fragments selected by the player correctly correspond to one of the plurality of answers, and 
 indicates the result of said assessment. 
 
     
     
         10 . The game of  claim 9  wherein the user interface disables the ability of the player to select answer fragments previously selected which together with other answer fragments previously selected have been assessed as correctly corresponding to one of the plurality of answers. 
     
     
         11 . The game of  claim 9  whereby the indication of the result of said assessment is audible. 
     
     
         12 . The game of  claim 9  wherein the user interface allows the player to shuffle the answer fragments. 
     
     
         13 . The game of  claim 9  wherein the user interface allows the player to cancel a selection of one or more answer fragments prior to making said assessment. 
     
     
         14 . The game of  claim 9  wherein the electronic device comprises a touch sensitive screen, said user interface integrated with said screen. 
     
     
         15 . The game of  claim 1  whereby the plurality of answers and clues are downloaded onto the electronic device from the internet. 
     
     
         16 . A game comprising
 a plurality of answers,
 with each answer comprised of a plurality of text characters, 
 with each answer distinct from each other answer, and 
 with at least one of the plurality of answers having a different number of text characters than at least one other answer; and 
   a plurality of clues, such that there is a one-to-one correspondence of answers and clues,
 with each clue associated with one of the plurality of answers such that each answer has one clue associated with said answer, and 
 with each clue consisting of a first clue component, a second clue component, and a third clue component,
 with the first clue component of each clue consisting of a unique hint that suggests the answer associated with said clue, 
 with the second clue component of each clue consisting of a plurality of answer fragments,
 with each said answer fragment comprising one or more text characters corresponding to a subset of consecutive text characters contained in the answer associated with said clue, said subset of text characters of said answer fragment of said second clue component arranged in an order corresponding to the subset of corresponding consecutive text characters of said answer, and 
 
 with the third clue component of each clue consisting of being an indication of the number of text characters contained in the answer corresponding to said clue; 
 
   wherein at least one of the answer fragments associated with any clue contains a different number of text characters than at least one other answer fragment associated with any clue,   with at least one of the answers having associated with it a different number of answer fragments than the number of answer fragments associated with at least one other answer,   with the game played on paper,   with each of the plurality of the first clue components printed on said paper in a manner capable of being viewed by a player of the game,   with each of the plurality of the third clue components printed on said paper in a manner capable of being viewed by the player,   with each of the plurality of answer fragments of each of the plurality of the second clue components printed on said paper in a manner capable of being viewed by the player, and   with the plurality of answer fragments being scrambled in relation to each other;   whereby the game is played by the player selecting a subset of the plurality of answer fragments, each of said answer fragments selected in a particular order such that the selected subset of the plurality of answer fragments when viewed sequentially in the order of selection spell out a result which corresponds to one of the plurality of answers, then repeating one or more times, as needed, each time selecting another subset of the plurality of answer fragments to correspond to another of the plurality of answers, until all of the answers have been correctly determined by the player.   
     
     
         17 . The game of  claim 16  wherein each answer is comprised of a plurality of alphabetic characters, such that the characters spell out a word. 
     
     
         18 . The game of  claim 17  wherein one or more of said answers further comprises one or more space characters, such that the answers containing space characters spell out two or more words, each word within said answer separated from an adjacent word by a space character. 
     
     
         19 . The game of  claim 16  wherein each said answer fragment of the second clue component of each clue is comprised of a different subset of consecutive text characters than are contained in each other answer fragment of said second clue component, whereby the aggregate of the text characters contained in the plurality of answer fragments associated with said second clue component of each said clue corresponds to the plurality of text characters of the answer corresponding to said clue. 
     
     
         20 . The game of  claim 16  wherein one or more spurious answer fragments not corresponding to any answer are randomly distributed among the plurality of answer fragments corresponding to the plurality of answers. 
     
     
         21 . A method for transforming a plurality of textual clues into a corresponding plurality of textual answers, said process of transforming clues into answers being used to play a game, said game comprising
 a plurality of answers,
 with each answer comprised of a plurality of text characters, and 
 with each answer distinct from each other answer; and 
   a plurality of clues, such that there is a one-to-one correspondence of answers and clues,
 with each clue associated with one of the plurality of answers such that each answer has one clue associated with said answer, and 
 with each clue consisting of a first clue component and a second clue component,
 with the first clue component of each clue consisting of a unique hint that suggests the answer associated with said clue, and 
 with the second clue component of each clue consisting of a plurality of answer fragments, with each said answer fragment comprising one or more text characters corresponding to a subset of consecutive text characters contained in the answer associated with said clue, said text characters of said answer fragment of said second clue component arranged in an order corresponding to the subset of corresponding consecutive text characters of said answer, 
 
   whereby the method is performed on an electronic device having a user interface, with the method embodied in a computer software program capable of being operated by said electronic device;   said method comprising the following steps:   A. a player initiates the game;   B. the game simultaneously displays each of the plurality of the first clue components using the user interface of the electronic device;   C. the game simultaneously displays each of the plurality of answer fragments of each of the plurality of the second clue components using the user interface of the electronic device, with the plurality of answer fragments being scrambled in relation to each other;   D. the player, using the user interface, selects a subset of the plurality of answer fragments, one at a time, in a specific order, with the aggregate of the selected answer fragments when viewed sequentially in the order of selection corresponding to one of the plurality of answers;   E. the player, using the user interface, signals that the selection of answer fragments corresponding to one of the plurality of answers is complete;   F. the computer software program assesses whether the answer fragments selected by the player correctly correspond to one of the plurality of answers;   G. if the answer fragments selected by the player in step D when viewed sequentially in the order of selection correctly correspond to one of the plurality of answers, the game displays said answer using the user interface, otherwise the game indicates an error using the user interface and cancels the selection of answer fragments; and   H. repeat steps D through G one or more times until the player correctly determines all of the plurality of answers or quits the game.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein
 at least one of the plurality of answers has a different number of text characters than at least one other answer; 
 at least one of the answer fragments associated with any clue contains a different number of text characters than at least one other answer fragment associated with any clue; and 
 at least one of the answers has associated with it a different number of answer fragments than the number of answer fragments associated with at least one other answer. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein in step C the game further displays one or more spurious answer fragments not corresponding to any answer, with said spurious answer fragments being randomly distributed among the plurality of answer fragments corresponding to the plurality of answers. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein
 in step B the game initially displays at least one but fewer than all of the first clue components; 
 with said method further comprising the following step: 
 G1. if the answer fragments selected by the player in step D when viewed sequentially in the order of selection correctly correspond to one of the plurality of answers, the game displays one or more first clue components not previously displayed; 
 whereby said step G1 occurs after step G. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the following step:
 G1. if the answer fragments selected by the player in step D when viewed sequentially in the order of selection correctly correspond to one of the plurality of answers, the game disables the ability of the player to thereafter select the answer fragments selected by the player in step D; 
 whereby said step G1 occurs after step G. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the following steps:
 D1. the player optionally selects a shuffle operation using the user interface; 
 D2. the game reorders the plurality of answer fragments such that the answer fragments are ordered differently than they were prior to step D1, with the plurality of answer fragments remaining scrambled in relation to each other; and 
 D3. the game displays each of the answer fragments using the user interface; whereby said step D1, if chosen to be performed by the player, occurs one or more times after step C and before, concurrent with, or after step D, with step D2 occurring immediately after step D1 and step D3 occurring immediately after step D2. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the following steps:
 D1. the player optionally selects a cancel operation using the user interface, and 
 D2. the game cancels the selection of answer fragments selected by the player; 
 whereby said step D1, if chosen to be performed by the player, occurs one or more times concurrent with step D, with step D2 occurring immediately after step D1. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the electronic device comprises a touch sensitive screen, said user interface integrated with said screen. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the following step:
 A1. the player downloads the plurality of answers and clues onto the electronic device from the internet; 
 whereby said step A1 occurs prior to the performance of step A. 
 
     
     
         30 . The game of  claim 1  wherein each said clue further consists of a fourth clue component, with said fourth clue component being a numeric indication of how many answer fragments correspond to the answer associated with said clue. 
     
     
         31 . The game of  claim 4  wherein each said clue further consists of a fifth clue component, with said fifth clue component being a numeric indication of how many words are contained in the answer corresponding to the clue.