Word game and system and methods for playing the word game

Abstract

A first set of letters may be assigned to a first player who may be prompted to form a first word using at least one of the first set of letters. A validity of the first word formed by the first player may be determined. When the first word is valid, a flag may be moved from a first position to a second position towards a first finish line based on the first word formed by the first player. If the second position is not beyond the first finish line, the second player may be prompted to form a subsequent word using a last letter of the first word and at least one of a second set of letters. The flag may be moved, based on the subsequent word formed by the second player, to a subsequent position towards a second finish line associated with the second player.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of playing a word game comprising:
 receiving a first word formed by a first player using at least one of a first set of letters assigned to the first player;   determining that the first word formed by the first player is a valid word;   moving in response to the determination that the first word is the valid word, a flag from a first position to a second position towards a first finish line associated with the first player based on the first word formed by the first player;   determining whether the second position is beyond the first finish line;   receiving, in response to the determination that the second position is not beyond the first finish line, a second word formed by a second player using a last letter of the first word and at least one of a second set of letters;   moving, based on the second word formed by the second player, the flag from the second position to a third position towards a second finish line associated with the second player;   determining whether the third position is beyond the second finish line; and   receiving, in response to the determination that the second position not beyond the second finish line, a third word formed by the first player using a last letter of the second word and at least one of the first set of letters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, in response to the determination that the second position not beyond the second finish line, a third word formed by the first player, comprises: replacing the at least one of the first set of letters used by the first player to form the first word. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the first word formed by the first player is the valid word comprises determining that the first word is defined in a dictionary. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the flag from the first position to the second position towards the first finish line comprises moving the flag on a number line from a neutral position to the second position in a first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein moving the flag from the second position to the third position comprises moving the flag in a second direction opposite to the first direction on the number line. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the second word formed by the second user comprises:
 prompting the first player to send an invitation to the second player;   assigning, upon acceptance of the invitation by the second player, the second set of letters to the second player; and   prompting the second user to form the second word using the last letter of the first word and the at least one of the second set of letters.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein prompting the first player to send the invitation to the second player further comprises providing an option to the first player to choose the second player from a friends list. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assigning medallions to the first player and the second player.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein assigning the medallions to the first player and the second player comprises assigning the medallions to the first player and the second player, the medallions being utilized to gain an advantage over at least one of the first player and the second player. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of letters and the second set of letters are comprise lenticular print. 
     
     
         11 . A computing device for playing a word game comprising:
 a memory for storing an executable program module; and   a processor, functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program module and operative to:
 display, a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a game board, the game board comprising a first section and a second section, wherein the first section comprises a first predetermined number of slots including a start block, and wherein the second section comprises a number line, a neutral point, a first finish line, a second finish line, and a flag; 
 display, in the GUI, a first player interface comprising a first set of predetermined letters; 
 wherein the GUI is configured to:
 assign a first set of letters to a first player, wherein the first set of letters are visible to the first player in the first player interface; 
 prompt the first player to form a first word on the game board using at least one of the first set of letters; 
 determine that the first word formed by the first player is a valid word; 
 move, in response to the determination that the first word is the valid word, the flag from the neutral position to a second position towards the first finish line based on the first word formed by the first player; 
 determine whether the second position is beyond the first finish point; 
 prompt, in response to the determination that the second position is not beyond the first finish line, the second player to form a second word using a last letter of the first word and at least one of a second set of letters; 
 move, based on the second word formed by the second player, the flag from the second position to a third position towards the second finish line on the number line; 
 determine whether the third position is beyond the second finish line; and 
 prompt, in response to the determination that the second position not beyond the second finish line, the first player to form a third word using a last letter of the second word and at least one of the first set of letters. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the first finish line and the second finish line are located equidistant from the neutral point in opposing direction. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the game board further comprises a time counter, wherein time counter is configured to count a time taken by the first player to form the first word. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the game board further comprises a misspelled counter wherein the misspelled counter is configured to display a number of words misspelled by the first player. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the misspelled counter is further configured to display the number of words misspelled by the second player. 
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the GUI is further configured to display medallions earned by the first player. 
     
     
         17 . A computer readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method of playing a word game, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
 assigning a first set of letters to a first player;   prompting the first player to form a first word using at least one of the first set of letters;   determining that the first word formed by the first player is a valid word;   moving, in response to the determination that the first word is the valid word, a flag from a first position to a second position towards a first finish line associated with the first player based on the first word formed by the first player;   determining whether the second position is beyond the first finish line;   prompting, in response to the determination that the second position is not beyond the first finish line, the second player to form a second word using a last letter of the first word and at least one of a second set of letters;   moving, based on the second word formed by the second player, the flag from the second position to a third position towards a second finish line associated with a second player;   determining whether the third position is beyond the second finish line; and   prompting, in response to the determination that the second position not beyond the second finish line, the first player to form a third word using a last letter of the second word and at least one of the first set of letters.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are executed on a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the second player is a computer system. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving, upon formation of the second word, a challenge from the first player, the challenge comprising a prompt for the second player to provide a definition for the second word; and   providing, upon acceptance of the challenge, a prompt for selecting a correct definition for the second word from a plurality of definitions.