Stacking Board Game and Method of Making and Using the Same

Abstract

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an interactive board game. The game includes a game board, one or more base pieces, a plurality of playing pieces, and at least one chance device (e.g., playing dice). The base pieces are inserted and/or adhered into apertures formed in the playing board and thus are used as foundations to support the playing pieces. The object of the game is to stack playing pieces vertically on the base pieces to create a tower structure. The playing pieces are constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with an assigned value, such that successful stacking rewards the player with points.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game apparatus comprising:
 a playing board defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one aperture;   one or more base pieces sized and shaped to fit into the at least one playing board apertures;   a plurality of playing pieces taken from sets of 6-12 uniquely shaped playing pieces; and   at least one chance device.   
     
     
         2 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the top face of the playing board comprises a support surface that includes cloth, foamed material, plastic, air cellular material, paper, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the playing board, base pieces, or playing pieces include an ornamental design. 
     
     
         4 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures have about the same size and shape. 
     
     
         5 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures have a width and length of about 2-10 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the playing board includes a folding feature. 
     
     
         7 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base pieces are substantially planar to allow for successive stacking thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one playing piece comprises a centered or off-centered weighted element. 
     
     
         9 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chance device includes at least one six-sided dice. 
     
     
         10 . A method of playing a stacking block game having between 5-12 sets of uniquely shaped playing pieces, the method comprising:
 a. positioning a playing board on a playing surface, wherein the playing board is defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one aperture;   b. positioning at least one base piece in each aperture of the playing board, wherein each base piece is sized and shaped to fit into the corresponding aperture, and wherein each base piece is used for stacking playing pieces to form a tower structure;   c. using a chance device to determine an Architect for the first round of play, wherein the Architect assigns a point value to the uniquely shaped playing pieces;   d. initiating play by a first player stacking a first playing piece on one or more base pieces, wherein the first player is awarded the point value of the first playing piece if the playing piece does not touch the top surface of the playing board after stacking;   e. allowing the first player to optionally play a second playing piece by stacking on the first playing piece, on one or more base pieces, or on both, wherein the first player is awarded the point value of the second playing piece if the playing piece does not touch the top surface of the playing board after stacking, and the second playing piece is the highest piece in the stacked pieces;   f. continuing play by allowing successive players to alternate steps d and e until all players have played and wherein the Architect plays last to complete the first round;   g. continuing play of the second round by assigning a new Architect and repeating steps d, e, and f a desired number of times or until all playing pieces have been stacked;   h. repeating step g until a desired number of rounds occurs, all playing pieces have been played, or a catastrophic failure occurs, wherein a catastrophic failure is defined by falling of at least 50% of the stacked playing pieces to contact the top surface of the playing board; and
 wherein the winner is determined by:
 the player with the highest number of points that did not cause a catastrophic failure in games with two or more players; or 
 the player with the highest number of points in games with two players. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first player is determined by seating relative to the Architect. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the chance device is at least one six-sided die. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the Architect of each successive round is determined by seating relative to the Architect of the previous round. 
     
     
         14 . A kit comprising:
 a game apparatus defined by a playing board defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one aperture; one or more base pieces sized and shaped to fit into the playing board apertures; a plurality of playing pieces taken from sets of 6-12 uniquely shaped playing pieces; and at least one chance device;   an outer container sized and shaped to house the game apparatus therein; and   a set of instructions on how to use the game apparatus during play.   
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the top face of the playing board comprises a support surface that includes cloth, foamed material, plastic, air cellular material, paper, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures have about the same size and shape. 
     
     
         17 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures have a width and length of about 2-7 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the playing board includes a folding feature. 
     
     
         19 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base pieces are substantially planar to allow for successive stacking thereon. 
     
     
         20 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one playing piece comprises a centered or off-centered weighted element.