Matching game with interconnectable gamepieces

Abstract

A four sided game piece and a method of playing one or more games utilizing the four sided game piece are disclosed. The four sided game piece includes one or more sides having a concave shaped edge and one or more sides having a convex shaped edge. The convex shaped edge of a first game piece is configured for completely and exactly mating with a concave shaped edge of a second game piece. The four sided game piece includes a top surface that is divided into four segments, each of the four segments including visual indicia that may be the same or different in various combinations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game piece, comprising:
 a four sided game piece, said four sided game piece including one or more sides having a concave edge and one or more sides each having a convex edge, said concave edge of said one or more sides defined by an arc having a length and a radius which corresponds to an arc having a length and the radius of said one or more sides having a convex edge, wherein said convex edge of one of said one or more sides of said four sided game piece is configured for exactly and completely mating with a concave edge of one or more sides of another of said four sided game piece.   
     
     
         2 . The game piece of  claim 1 , wherein said four sided game piece includes two pairs of opposite sides, said first pair of opposite sides each having said concave edge while said second pair of opposite sides each having said convex edge. 
     
     
         3 . The game piece according to  claim 1 , wherein said four sided game piece includes a top surface, wherein said top surface is divided into four segments, each of said four segments including visual indicia. 
     
     
         4 . The game piece according to  claim 3 , wherein said four segments include visual indicia configurations selected from the group of visual indicia configurations consisting of: all 4 of said segments including the same visual indicia; 3 of said 4 segments including the same visual indicia and a fourth segment including a visual indicia different from that on said 3 of said 4 segments; a first 2 of said 4 segments including the same visual indicia and the remaining 2 of said 4 segments including visual indicia which is the same but different than the visual indicia on said first 2 of said 4 segments; 2 of said 4 segments including the same visual indicia while a third segment includes a visual indicia which is different than said 2 of said 4 segments, while a fourth segment includes a visual indicia which is the different than both said 2 of said 4 segments and said third segment; and each of said 4 segments including visual indicia which is different than any other of said 4 segments on a given game piece. 
     
     
         5 . The game piece according to  claim 3 , wherein said visual indicia is selected from the group of visual indicia including color, letters, numbers and symbols. 
     
     
         6 . A game utilizing a plurality of said four sided game pieces according to  claim 5 , wherein said game includes nesting a concave edge of a first four sided game piece with a convex edge of a second four sided game piece based on a match of one of said group of visual indicia provided on said four sided game pieces. 
     
     
         7 . A game utilizing a plurality of said four sided game pieces according to  claim 5 , wherein said game includes nesting a concave edge of a first four sided game piece with a convex edge of a second four sided game piece based on predefined games instructions and criteria. 
     
     
         8 . The game according to  claim 6 , wherein said game includes a dominos type game. 
     
     
         9 . The game according to  claim 8 , wherein said dominoes type game is played by providing two or more game players with a predetermined quantity of said four sided game pieces, and wherein each of said two or more game players take sequential turns at nesting said concave edge of a first four sided game piece with a convex edge of said second four sided game piece based on a match of said one of said group of visual indicia provided on said four sided game pieces 
     
     
         10 . The game according to  claim 9 , wherein said game is won by a game play condition selected from the group of game play conditions consisting of: a first of said two or more game players to nest all of said game player's provided predetermined quantity of four sided game pieces; and by a first of said two or more game players achieving the highest point score among said two or more players, wherein points are scored according to matching visual indicia, and unplayed game pieces remaining to opposing players. 
     
     
         11 . The game according to  claim 6 , wherein said game is played as a puzzle. 
     
     
         12 . The game according to  claim 6 , wherein said game is played as a card game. 
     
     
         13 . A game piece, comprising:
 a four sided game piece, said four sided game piece including two pairs of opposite sides, said first pair of opposite sides each having said concave edge while said second pair of opposite sides each having said convex edge, said concave edges of said first pair of opposite sides defined by an arc having a length and a radius which corresponds to an arc having a length and the radius of said second pair of opposite sides having a convex edge, wherein said convex edge of said first pair of opposite sides of said four sided game piece is configured for exactly and completely mating with said concave edge of one or more sides of another of said four sided game piece, wherein said four sided game piece includes a top surface, wherein said top surface is divided into four segments, each of said four segments including visual indicia, wherein said four segments include visual indicia configurations selected from the group of visual indicia configurations consisting of: all 4 of said segments including the same visual indicia; 3 of said 4 segments including the same visual indicia and a fourth segment including a visual indicia different from that on said 3 of said 4 segments; a first 2 of said 4 segments including the same visual indicia and the remaining 2 of said 4 segments including visual indicia which is the same but different than the visual indicia on said first 2 of said 4 segments; 2 of said 4 segments including the same visual indicia while a third segment includes a visual indicia which is different than said 2 of said 4 segments, while a fourth segment includes a visual indicia which is the different than both said 2 of said 4 segments and said third segment; and each of said 4 segments including visual indicia which is different than any other of said 4 segments on a given game piece.   
     
     
         14 . A method of playing a game, said method comprising the acts of:
 providing a plurality of game pieces, each of said plurality of game pieces comprising a four sided game piece, said four sided game piece including two pairs of opposite sides, said first pair of opposite sides each having said concave edge while said second pair of opposite sides each having said convex edge, said concave edges of said first pair of opposite sides defined by an arc having a length and a radius which corresponds to an arc having a length and the radius of said second pair of opposite sides having a convex edge, wherein said convex edge of said first pair of opposite sides of said four sided game piece is configured for exactly and completely mating with said concave edge of one or more sides of another of said four sided game piece, wherein said four sided game piece includes a top surface, wherein said top surface is divided into four segments, each of said four segments including visual indicia, wherein said four segments include visual indicia configurations selected from the group of visual indicia configurations consisting of: all 4 of said segments including the same visual indicia; 3 of said 4 segments including the same visual indicia and a fourth segment including a visual indicia different from that on said 3 of said 4 segments; a first 2 of said 4 segments including the same visual indicia and the remaining 2 of said 4 segments including visual indicia which is the same but different than the visual indicia on said first 2 of said 4 segments; 2 of said 4 segments including the same visual indicia while a third segment includes a visual indicia which is different than said 2 of said 4 segments, while a fourth segment includes a visual indicia which is the different than both said 2 of said 4 segments and said third segment; and each of said 4 segments including visual indicia which is different than any other of said 4 segments on a given game piece; and   providing written instructions for playing said game, said written instructions including:   directing the placement of at least one starter game piece on a game play area;   directing a plurality of players to each select a plurality of said game pieces from a game piece storage device;   directing a first player to determine if he or she has selected at least one game piece from said plurality of selected game pieces that can be nested along at least one edge with at least one edge of said at least one starter game piece, if it is possible to nest said selected at least one game piece from said plurality of selected game pieces along at least one edge with at least one edge of said at least one starter game piece, said first player continuing to select one game piece from said plurality of selected game pieces that can be nested along at least one edge with at least one edge of one or more game pieces on said game play area until said first player has no further selected game piece that can be nested with a game piece on said game play area, wherein play proceeds to a second and subsequent player;   directing a second and subsequent player to determine if he or she has selected at least one game piece from said plurality of selected game pieces that can be nested along at least one edge with one or more game pieces on said game play, if it is possible to nest said selected at least one game piece from said plurality of selected game pieces along at least one edge with one or more game pieces on said game play, said player continuing to select one game piece from said plurality of selected game pieces that can be nested along at least one edge with at least one edge of one or more game pieces on said game play area until said second and subsequent player has no further selected game pieces that can be nested with a game piece on said game play area, wherein play proceeds to a subsequent player;   directing that after one player plays his or her last game piece, the number of tiles remaining in each of the other player's hands are counted and if the player's last game piece matched another game piece only on one edge, the number of points received by that player is equal to the number of game pieces remaining in the hands of all of the other players, whereas if the player's last game piece matched on more than one edge, the player scores twice this number of points;   directing that the remaining players continue play;   directing that when only one player has game pieces remaining, the hand is over;   directing that a second and subsequent game may be played to any agreed-upon number of points; and   directing that if no player can play a game piece anywhere, the hand ends and no further scores for that hand are awarded and game pieces are returned to the game piece storage device and all players draw new game pieces to begin a new hand.