Puzzle game apparatus, kit, method, and computer readable medium

Abstract

A computer readable storage medium, method, gaming board apparatus, and kit is provided to implement aspects of a puzzle game played on a gaming board arranged into a 4 by 4 matrix of cells, the player being required to place gaming tokens (or tiles) each having an indicia thereon in each of the matrix of cells such that no two tokens comprising a common tile indicia may be placed in a same column, row, or diagonal in the four by four matrix of cells. The puzzle game is solved when no remaining unplaced tokens exists that may be placed in any cell of the four by four matrix of cells. The game may be played by one player, or by a plurality of players. Points may be awarded to a respective player for successfully placing a token, or for completing various arrangements of tokens on the gaming board.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer processing instructions that when executed by at least one computer processor coupled to the computer readable storage medium:
 presents a gaming board on at least one display device in communication with the at least one processor, the gaming board comprising an array of cells arranged in four columns and four rows to form a four by four matrix of cells;   upon receiving at least one tile placement command to place at least one tile at at least one cell of the matrix of cells, updates the displayed gaming board in accordance with the at least one tile placement command, each of the at least one tile having been assigned a respective indicia; and   indicates that the puzzle game is solved when no remaining unplaced tile exists that may be placed in any cell of the four by four matrix of cells in accordance with a defined set of rules requiring that no two tiles comprising a common tile indicia may be placed in a same column, row, or diagonal in the four by four matrix of cells.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1  wherein four of the cells of the matrix of cells are each positioned in a respective corner of the matrix of cells, and wherein the defined set of rules further requires that no two tiles comprising a common indicia may be placed in a same two by two sub-matrix of cells defined from a respective one of the corner cells. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 2  wherein four of the cells of the matrix of cells are each positioned at an interior position in the matrix of cells, thereby defining an interior two by two sub-matrix of cells, and wherein the defined set of rules further requires that no two tiles comprising a common indicia may be placed in the interior two by two sub-matrix of cells. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1  wherein the at least one tile is selected from sixteen tiles, the sixteen tiles comprising four sets of four tiles each, wherein all tiles of a respective one of the sets are assigned common indicia, unique to the respective one of the sets from amongst the four sets. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 4  wherein each indicia represents a symbol comprising a predefined number of sides, and the processing instructions when executed by the at least one computer processor cause the at least one processor to: assign a point value to each tile based at least partly on the number of sides associated with the symbol assigned to the respective tile. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 5  wherein each symbol may comprise one of a circle shape, a cross shape, a triangle shape, and a square shape. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 1  wherein the processing instructions when executed by the at least one computer processor cause the at least one processor to: maintain a tally of at least one point score based at least partly on an arrangement of the at least one tile in the matrix of cells; and provide an indication of the tally of the at least one point score on the at least one display device. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 7  wherein the processing instructions when executed by the at least one computer processor cause the at least one processor to: assign a point score to each cell of the matrix of cells; and upon placing the at least one tile in the respective at least one cell, increase the tally of the at least one point score based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective at least one cell. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8  wherein the processing instructions when executed by the at least one computer processor cause the at least one processor to: assign a bonus point multiplier to at least one cell of the matrix of cells; and upon placing the at least one tile in the respective at least one cell, increase the tally of the at least one point score based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective at least one cell, wherein the point score is multiplied by the assigned bonus point multiplier of the respective at least one cell. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein the processing instructions when executed by the at least one computer processor cause the at least one processor to: display a visual indication representative of the assigned bonus point multiplier for each cell of the matrix of cells having been assigned a bonus point multiplier. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 7  wherein the processing instructions when executed by the at least one computer processor cause the at least one processor to: assign a point score for placing the at least one tile in each cell of a respective row, column, or diagonal arrangement of cells of the matrix of cells; and upon placing the at least one tile in each cell of the respective row, column, or diagonal arrangement of cells, increase the tally of the at least one point score based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective row, column, or diagonal arrangement of cells. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 3  wherein the processing instructions when executed by the at least one computer processor cause the at least one processor to: maintain a tally of at least one point score based at least partly on an arrangement of the at least one tile in the matrix of cells; provide an indication of the tally of the at least one point score on the at least one display device; assign a point score for placing the at least one tile in each cell of a respective one of the sub-matrix of cells; and upon placing the at least one tile in each cell of the respective sub-matrix of cells, increase the tally of the at least one point score based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective sub-matrix of cells. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim of  claim 7  wherein each of the at least one point score is maintained for each player of an instance of the gaming board. 
     
     
         14 . A method of playing a puzzle game on a gaming board in accordance with a set of game rules, the gaming board comprising an array of cells arranged in four columns and four rows to form a four by four matrix of cells, the method comprising:
 placing at least one tile at at least one cell of the matrix of cells in accordance with the set of game rules, each of the at least one tile having been assigned a respective indicia; and   wherein the set of rules require that no two tiles comprising a common tile indicia may be placed in a same column, row, or diagonal in the four by four matrix of cells, and wherein the set of rules dictate that the puzzle game is solved when no remaining unplaced tile exists that may be placed in any cell of the four by four matrix of cells.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the gaming board is displayed on a display of a computing device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the gaming board comprises a gaming board apparatus, each of the at least one tile comprises a three-dimensional tile token, and each cell of the matrix of cells defines a chamber sized to receive any of the tile tokens. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein four of the cells of the matrix of cells are each positioned in a respective corner of the matrix of cells, and wherein the defined set of rules further requires that no two tiles comprising a common indicia may be placed in a same two by two sub-matrix of cells defined from a respective one of the corner cells. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein four of the cells of the matrix of cells are each positioned at an interior position in the matrix of cells, thereby defining an interior two by two sub-matrix of cells, and wherein the defined set of rules further requires that no two tiles comprising a common indicia may be placed in the interior two by two sub-matrix of cells. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one tile is selected from sixteen tiles, the sixteen tiles comprising four sets of four tiles each, wherein all tiles of a respective one of the sets are assigned common indicia, unique to the respective one of the sets from amongst the four sets. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein each indicia represents a symbol comprising a predefined number of sides, the method comprising: assigning a point value to each tile based at least partly on the number of sides associated with the symbol assigned to the respective tile. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein each symbol may comprise one of a circle shape, a cross shape, a triangle shape, and a square shape. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  comprising: maintaining a tally of at least one point score based at least partly on an arrangement of the at least one tile in the matrix of cells. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  comprising: assigning a point score to each cell of the matrix of cells; and upon placing the at least one tile in the respective at least one cell, increasing the tally of the at least one point score based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective at least one cell. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  comprising: assigning a bonus point multiplier to at least one cell of the matrix of cells; and upon placing the at least one tile in the respective at least one cell, increasing the tally of the at least one point score based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective at least one cell, wherein the point score is multiplied by the assigned bonus point multiplier of the respective at least one cell. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the gaming board provides a visual indication representative of the assigned bonus point multiplier for each cell of the matrix of cells having been assigned a bonus point multiplier. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  comprising: assigning a point score for placing the at least one tile in each cell of a respective row, column, or diagonal arrangement of cells of the matrix of cells; and upon placing the at least one tile in each cell of the respective row, column, or diagonal arrangement of cells, increasing the tally of the at least one point score based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective row, column, or diagonal arrangement of cells. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18  comprising: maintaining a tally of at least one point score based at least partly on an arrangement of the at least one tile in the matrix of cells; assigning a point score for placing the at least one tile in each cell of a respective one of the sub-matrix of cells; and upon placing the at least one tile in each cell of the respective sub-matrix of cells, increasing the tally of the at least one point score based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective sub-matrix of cells. 
     
     
         28 . The method of claim of  claim 22  wherein each of the at least one point score is maintained for each player of an instance of the gaming board. 
     
     
         29 . A gaming board apparatus comprising:
 a playing plane comprising an array of cells arranged in four columns and four rows to form a four by four matrix of cells;   wherein each of four cells of the matrix of cells being positioned in the matrix of cells being joined to each nearby cell in the matrix of cells that is a distance of one cell away in a row, column, or diagonal, thereby defining a respective corner two by two sub-matrix of cells at each corner of the matrix of cells; and   wherein each of four of the cells of the matrix of cells being positioned at an interior position in the matrix of cells being joined to one another, thereby defining an interior two by two sub-matrix of cells.   
     
     
         30 . The gaming board apparatus of  claim 29  wherein each cell comprises a recessed area being walled by a raised edge portion around a circumference of the cell, the recessed area comprising a supporting surface upon which a square-shaped game piece token may be placed, and retained in the cell by the raised edge portion. 
     
     
         31 . The gaming board apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the recessed area of each cell comprises a cell aperture shaped to indicate a cell type of the respective cell. 
     
     
         32 . The gaming board apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the cell aperture shape comprises a geometric shape. 
     
     
         33 . A puzzle game kit comprising:
 a gaming board apparatus comprising:
 a playing plane comprising an array of cells arranged in four columns and four rows to form a four by four matrix of cells; 
 wherein each of four cells of the matrix of cells being positioned in the matrix of cells being joined to each nearby cell in the matrix of cells that is a distance of one cell away in a row, column, or diagonal, thereby defining a respective corner two by two sub-matrix of cells at each corner of the matrix of cells; and 
 wherein each of four of the cells of the matrix of cells being positioned at an interior position in the matrix of cells being joined to one another, thereby defining an interior two by two sub-matrix of cells; 
   at least one set of square-shaped game piece tiles, each tile indicating thereon a respective tile indicia; and   a set of game rules for playing a puzzle game with the gaming board apparatus and the at least one set of tiles, the set of game rules comprising:
 a rule that each tile of the at least one set of tiles is to be placed in the matrix of cells whereby no two tiles comprising a common tile indicia may be placed in a same column, row, or diagonal in the four by four matrix of cells; and 
 a rule that the puzzle game is solved when no remaining unplaced tile exists that may be placed in any cell of the four by four matrix of cells. 
   
     
     
         34 . The kit of  claim 33  wherein four of the cells of the matrix of cells are each positioned in a respective corner of the matrix of cells, and wherein the defined set of rules further requires that no two tiles comprising a common indicia may be placed in a same two by two sub-matrix of cells defined from a respective one of the corner cells. 
     
     
         35 . The kit of  claim 34  wherein four of the cells of the matrix of cells are each positioned at an interior position in the matrix of cells, thereby defining an interior two by two sub-matrix of cells, and wherein the defined set of rules further requires that no two tiles comprising a common indicia may be placed in the interior two by two sub-matrix of cells. 
     
     
         36 . The kit of  claim 33  wherein the at least one set of tiles comprises sixteen tiles, the sixteen tiles comprising four sets of four tiles each, wherein all tiles of a respective one of the sets are assigned common indicia, unique to the respective one of the sets from amongst the four sets. 
     
     
         37 . The kit of  claim 36  wherein each indicia represents a symbol comprising a predefined number of sides, and the set of rules comprises a rule that a point value shall be assigned to each tile based at least partly on the number of sides associated with the symbol assigned to the respective tile. 
     
     
         38 . The kit of  claim 37  wherein each symbol may comprise one of a circle shape, a cross shape, a triangle shape, and a square shape. 
     
     
         39 . The kit of  claim 33  wherein the set of rules comprises a rule that a tally of at least one point score shall be maintained based at least partly on an arrangement of tiles of the at least one set of tiles in the matrix of cells. 
     
     
         40 . The kit of  claim 39  wherein the set of rules comprises: a rule that a point score shall be assigned to each cell of the matrix of cells; and a rule that upon placing any respective tile of the at least one set of tiles in the respective at least one cell, the tally of the at least one point score shall be increased based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective at least one cell. 
     
     
         41 . The kit of  claim 40  wherein the set of rules comprises: a rule that a bonus point multiplier shall be assigned to at least one cell of the matrix of cells; and a rule that upon placing the respective tile in the respective at least one cell, the tally of the at least one point score shall be increased based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective at least one cell, wherein the point score is multiplied by the assigned bonus point multiplier of the respective at least one cell. 
     
     
         42 . The kit of  claim 41  wherein the gaming board provides a visual indication representative of the assigned bonus point multiplier for each cell of the matrix of cells having been assigned a bonus point multiplier. 
     
     
         43 . The kit of  claim 39  wherein the set of rules comprises: a rule that a point score shall be assigned for placing the tiles of the at least one set of tiles in each cell of a respective row, column, or diagonal arrangement of cells of the matrix of cells; and a rule that upon placing the tiles in each cell of the respective row, column, or diagonal arrangement of cells, the tally of the at least one point score shall be increased based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective row, column, or diagonal arrangement of cells. 
     
     
         44 . The kit of  claim 35  wherein the set of rules comprises: a rule that a tally of at least one point score shall be maintained based at least partly on an arrangement of the tiles of the at least one set of tiles in the matrix of cells; a rule that a point score shall be assigned for placing each of the tiles in each cell of a respective one of the sub-matrix of cells; and a rule that upon placing the tiles in each cell of the respective sub-matrix of cells, the tally of the at least one point score shall be increased based at least partly on the point score assigned to the respective sub-matrix of cells. 
     
     
         45 . The kit of claim of  claim 39  wherein each of the at least one point score is maintained for each player of an instance of the puzzle game.