Method and Apparatus for Playing a Game

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a class of games and a method of playing games that are played by manipulating objects on a grid. The objects have defined properties that control how the objects are moved. Objects may optionally be connected to each other which alters how the objects may be moved on the grid. The object of the game is for the player to accumulate points based upon arranging the objects in predetermined patterns according to specific rules.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for a player to play a game comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a playing grid having a plurality of cells, said playing grid able to contain objects in the cells with each cell being able to contain a single object;   b. providing a plurality of objects selected from the group consisting of vertically-movable objects and horizontally-movable objects;   c. placing zero or more objects onto one or more of the cells of the playing grid array based upon a predetermined set of initial placement rules;   d. said objects being moved on, added to or removed from the playing grid either as directed by a set of playing rules or by a player's choice according to the playing rules, until either the playing rules allow no further movement of the objects or a game terminating condition occurs;   e. said player accruing points based upon arranging the objects according to predetermined patterns; and   f. repeating steps d and e in sequential order until a predetermined game terminating condition is met.   
     
     
         2 . A method as described in  claim 1  wherein said playing grid is a physical essentially two-dimensional playing board. 
     
     
         3 . A method as described in  claim 1  wherein said playing grid is a computer representation of a two-dimensional playing grid. 
     
     
         4 . A method as described in  claim 1  wherein said playing grid is three-dimensional having two or more two-dimensional playing grids aligned vertically on top of each other. 
     
     
         5 . A method as described in  claim 4  wherein said playing grid is represented by a computer representation of a three-dimensional playing grid. 
     
     
         6 . A method as described in  claim 1  wherein said playing grid is a computer representation of a four-dimensional or higher playing grid. 
     
     
         7 . A method as described in  claim 1  wherein said vertically-movable objects may be connected to each other and wherein said horizontally-movable objects may be connected to each other. 
     
     
         8 . A method for two or more players to play a game comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a playing grid having a plurality of cells, said playing grid able to contain objects in the cells with each cell being able to contain a single object;   b. providing a plurality of objects selected from the group consisting of vertically-movable objects and horizontally-movable objects;   c. said player placing zero or more objects into one or more of the cells of the playing grid array based upon a predetermined set of initial placement rules;   d. Said objects being moved on, added to, or removed from the playing grid either as directed by a set of playing rules or by a player's choice according to the playing rules, until either the playing rules allow no further movement of the objects or a game terminating condition occurs;   e. said player accruing points based upon arranging the objects according to predetermined patterns; and   f. repeating steps d and e in sequential order until a predetermined game terminating condition is met.   
     
     
         9 . A method as described in  claim 8  wherein said playing grid is a physical essentially two-dimensional playing board. 
     
     
         10 . A method as described in  claim 8  wherein said playing grid is a computer representation of a two-dimensional playing grid. 
     
     
         11 . A method as described in  claim 8  wherein said playing grid is three-dimensional having two or more two-dimensional playing grids aligned vertically on top of each other. 
     
     
         12 . A method as described in  claim 11  wherein said playing grid is represented by a computer representation of a three-dimensional playing grid. 
     
     
         13 . A method as described in  claim 8  wherein said playing grid is a computer representation of a four-dimensional or higher playing grid. 
     
     
         14 . A method as described in  claim 8  wherein said vertically-movable objects may be connected to each other and wherein said horizontally-movable objects may be connected to each other. 
     
     
         15 . A board game comprising
 a playing grid;   a plurality of object; and   rules according to the method described in  claim 1 , wherein said rules are selected from the group consisting of rules printed on paper, rules printed on the playing grid, and rules embodied as a computer file;   
     
     
         16 . The board game of  claim 15  wherein the playing grid is two-dimensional; 
     
     
         17 . The board game of  claim 15  where the playing grid is three-dimensional. 
     
     
         18 . The board game of  claim 15  wherein the playing grid is disposed on the outer surface of a cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The board game of  claim 15  wherein the playing grid is disposed on the periphery of a stack of rotating plates.