Tile matching game

Abstract

A tile-matching game in which each tile has four quadrants displaying values. Tiles can be played on a game board by matching the values of adjacent quadrants. A plurality of alternate scoring methods can be used to determine the number of points scored for each new tile placement. In some embodiments the scoring method for each new move can be randomly determined after the move is made.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game set comprising:
 a plurality of tiles, each tile in said plurality of tiles being a substantially square planar member having a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant on a corner opposite to said second quadrant, and a fourth quadrant on a corner opposite to said first quadrant, wherein each of said first quadrant, said second quadrant, said third quadrant, and said fourth quadrant displays an indicia indicating a value,   wherein the value displayed by the indicia in each tile's first quadrant and fourth quadrant is the same value selected from within a first range of values, the value displayed by the indicia in each tile's second quadrant is selected from within a second range of values, and the value displayed by the indicia in each tile's third quadrant is selected from within a third range of values.   
     
     
         2 . The game set of  claim 1 , wherein said first range of values, said second range of values, and said third range of values can follow a value assignment scheme determined by arranging said plurality of tiles into a grid of rows and columns, such that:
 said first range of values spans from one to the total number of rows in said grid, with the value displayed by the indicia in each tile's first quadrant and fourth quadrant corresponding to number of its row within said grid,   said second range of values spans from one less than twice the total number of columns in said grid down to the total number of columns in said grid, with the value displayed by the indicia in each tile's second quadrant decreasing for each column in said grid going left to right, and   said third range of values spans from zero to one less than the total number of columns in said grid, with the value displayed by the indicia in each tile's third quadrant increasing for each column in said grid going left to right.   
     
     
         3 . The game set of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of tiles consists of thirty tiles that can be arranged in a grid of six rows and five columns in said value assignment scheme, such that said first range of values spans from one to six, said second range of values spans from nine to five, and said third range of values spans from zero to four. 
     
     
         4 . The game set of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of tiles consists of forty five tiles that can be arranged in a grid of nine rows and five columns in said value assignment scheme, such that said first range of values spans from one to nine, said second range of values spans from nine to five, and said third range of values spans from zero to four. 
     
     
         5 . The game set of  claim 1 , further comprising a game board. 
     
     
         6 . The game set of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of tiles and said game board are magnetic. 
     
     
         7 . A method of playing a game, comprising:
 providing each of a plurality of players with a hand of tiles by dividing a tile set comprising a plurality of tiles among said plurality of players, wherein each tile in said plurality of tiles is a substantially square planar member having a first quadrant displaying indicia indicating a first value, a second quadrant displaying indicia indicating a second value, a third quadrant on a corner opposite to said second quadrant displaying indicia indicating a third value, and a fourth quadrant on a corner opposite to said first quadrant displaying indicia indicating said first value;   making a first move by taking a first tile from a first player's hand and placing the first tile on a playing surface;   playing one or more subsequent moves by taking new tiles from the hands of each of said plurality of players and placing a quadrant of each new tile directly against a quadrant of a previously-played tile that has the same value, wherein each subsequent move is made by a player according to a rotating player order;   calculating a score for each move according to a scoring method;   adding said score for each move to a point total for the player that made the move; and   declaring a winning player when all tiles have been played or no more moves can be made.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said first range of values, said second range of values, and said third range of values can follow a value assignment scheme determined by arranging said plurality of tiles into a grid of rows and columns, such that:
 said first range of values spans from one to the total number of rows in said grid, with the value displayed by the indicia in each tile's first quadrant and fourth quadrant corresponding to number of its row within said grid,   said second range of values spans from one less than twice the total number of columns in said grid down to the total number of columns in said grid, with the value displayed by the indicia in each tile's second quadrant decreasing for each column in said grid going left to right, and   said third range of values spans from zero to one less than the total number of columns in said grid, with the value displayed by the indicia in each tile's third quadrant increasing for each column in said grid going left to right.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of tiles consists of thirty tiles that can be arranged in a grid of six rows and five columns in said value assignment scheme, such that said first range of values spans from one to six, said second range of values spans from nine to five, and said third range of values spans from zero to four. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of tiles consists of forty five tiles that can be arranged in a grid of nine rows and five columns in said value assignment scheme, such that said first range of values spans from one to nine, said second range of values spans from nine to five, and said third range of values spans from zero to four. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said scoring method is an around the world scoring method wherein said score is calculated by totaling the values of all quadrants of all tiles on said playing surface, minus the values of all quadrants that have been matched to a quadrant on adjacent tile. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said scoring method is a matching only scoring method, wherein said score is calculated by totaling the values of newly matched quadrants, plus all other quadrants on said playing surface that have the same value as the newly matched quadrants. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said scoring method is a full matrix scoring method, wherein said score is calculated by totaling the values of all quadrants on said playing surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said scoring method is a skip scoring method, wherein said score is calculated as zero points. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said scoring method for each new move is randomly determined by a scoring method selector from scoring method options comprising:
 an around the world scoring method wherein said score is calculated by totaling the values of all quadrants of all tiles on said playing surface, minus the values of all quadrants that have been matched to a quadrant on adjacent tile;   a matching only scoring method, wherein said score is calculated by totaling the values of newly matched quadrants, plus all other quadrants on said playing surface that have the same value as the newly matched quadrants;   a full matrix scoring method, wherein said score is calculated by totaling the values of all quadrants on said playing surface; and   a skip scoring method, wherein said score is calculated as zero points.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said scoring method selector is a spinner comprising a pointer and a plurality of fields that each display one of said scoring method options. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the scoring method for each new move is randomly determined by a scoring method selector after each new move has been made. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the scoring method selector is operated by a player later in said player order than the player who made the new move. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said scoring method is an around the world scoring method wherein said score is calculated by totaling the values of all quadrants of all tiles on said playing surface, minus the values of all quadrants that have been matched to a quadrant on adjacent tile; and   wherein said score is added to said point total for the player that made the move only if said score is a multiple of a predetermined number.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined number is five. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined number is three. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined number is two.