Turing complete sets of game components with divinatory elements

Abstract

One embodiment of a Turing complete set of game components in the form of a deck of playing cards, each card ( 110 ) having at least one divinatory element illustrated on its playing face ( 112 ). In other embodiments, the game components may take other forms, including, but not limited to components for board, dice or tile games. Additionally, the game components may be simulated in different types of non physical ways, including, but not limited to electronic games, video games, computer games, or interactive network games. The embodiments described and shown have the advantage over prior art of being able to simulate a universal Turing machine in a two player game for a finite period of time within a finite volume of space, which is sometimes referred to as a tabletop game.

I claim: 
     
         1 . Manufactured sets of game components comprising:
 a. a plurality of game components with a plurality of attributes associated with each of said game components, including a plurality of distinct colors or subsets within each set of game components; and   b. said game components shall additionally have a plurality of distinct states or orientations which they may take during a game; and   c. the distinct colors and states of each set of game components shall be at least equal in number to the number of colors and states in a Turing machine which has been proven to be universal; and   d. a set of instructions whereby, when the instructions are applied to the colors and states of said game components as they are arrayed within a finite playing area during a game, said set of instructions will cause the reader of said set of instructions to simulate the operation of a universal Turing machine for a finite period of time, the maximum length of said period of time being predetermined before the game begins.   
     
     
         2 . The manufactured sets of game components of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said game components have at least one divinatory element written upon, inscribed on, affixed to, or otherwise associated with each of said game components; and
 a. some of said divinatory elements may temporarily alter at least one of the attributes of its associated game component during a game; and 
 b. a change in the state or orientation of said game components may change how some of said divinatory elements are interpreted.