Maze game apparatus with storytelling

Abstract

A maze game with storytelling is configured to enable a player to play by selecting and placing connectible puzzle pieces to collectively form a maze. Each connectible puzzle piece includes a character, a segment of a path, and a plot of a story. The maze game includes a plurality of connectible puzzle piece of various types. Types of the puzzle pieces include puzzle pieces that include illustrations of characters that specify a part of evolving plots of a story. The player plays the maze game by interactively selecting and placing connectible puzzle pieces and create a maze by extending segments of the path while evolving plots of a story. The game includes the player perform storytelling based on an evolving plot of the story by tracing the path of the maze using an actor piece.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A maze game with storytelling, the maze game comprising:
 a plurality of connectible pieces collectively representing a maze when connected to each other,
 wherein the plurality of connectible pieces includes a first connectible piece, 
 wherein the first connectible piece includes a first segment of a path, a plot of a story, and a first character, 
 wherein the path is extended when the first segment of the path of the first connectible piece is connected to a second segment of the path and a second character on a second connectible piece of the plurality of connectible pieces, 
 wherein the plot of the story is updated when the second connectible piece is placed next to the first connectible piece by aligning a first edge of the first connectible piece with a second edge of second first connectible piece, causing a player to extend the path and update the plot of the story, and 
 wherein the plot of the story evolves as the path is extended by iteratively connecting subsequent connectible pieces of the plurality of connectible pieces; and 
   an actor piece, wherein the actor piece is movable along the path to enact the story based on an evolving plot of the story as the actor piece iteratively moves along the path from a start point toward an end point.   
     
     
         2 . The maze game of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connectible pieces include a sheet with a magnetized surface. 
     
     
         3 . The maze game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of:
 a start point piece or a end point piece, wherein the start point piece represents a starting point of the path, and wherein the end point piece represents a final terminal point of the path.   
     
     
         4 . The maze game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a prop piece, wherein the prop piece includes an illustration of an item to be picked up or claimed by the player as a part of the plot of the story. 
     
     
         5 . The maze game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a location piece, wherein the location piece includes an illustrated piece of object for traveling as a part of the plot associated with the one of the plurality of connectible pieces. 
     
     
         6 . The maze game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a portal piece, wherein the portal piece represents either a portal for jumping from the one of the plurality of connectible pieces to another portal piece. 
     
     
         7 . The maze game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a location piece, wherein the location piece represents a place for visiting in a plot of story. 
     
     
         8 . The maze game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a cul-de-sac piece, wherein the cul-de-sac piece indicates a dead-end of the path. 
     
     
         9 . The maze game of  claim 1 , wherein the second segment of the path on the second connectible piece includes a multi-way junction of the path. 
     
     
         10 . The maze game of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connectible pieces includes a shape of one of:
 a triangle,   a square, or   a hexagon.   
     
     
         11 . A method of playing a maze game with storytelling, the method comprising:
 selecting a first connectible piece from a plurality of connectible pieces, wherein the first connectible piece includes a first segment of a path, a plot of a story, and a first character associated with the plot of the story;   placing the first connectible piece onto a surface;   selecting a second connectible piece from the plurality of connectible pieces, wherein the second connectible piece includes a second segment of the path, and a second character;   placing the second connectible piece onto the surface, wherein a first edge of the first connectible piece attaches along a second edge of the second connectible piece, wherein the first segment of the path extends onto the second segment of the path, wherein the plot of the story evolves based on the second character, and wherein a combination of segments of the path including the first segment and the second segment represents a maze path;   updating the story including the plot evolving along the maze path for the storytelling; and   enacting the storytelling based on the story while traversing by using an actor piece a sequence of evolving the plot along the maze path.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the plurality of connectible pieces include a sheet with a magnetized surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of:
 a start point piece or an end point piece, wherein the start point piece represents a starting point of the path, and wherein the end point piece represents a final terminal point of the path.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a prop piece, wherein the prop piece includes an illustration of an item to be picked up or claimed by a player as a part of the plot of the story. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a transportation piece, wherein the transportation piece includes an illustrated piece of object for traveling as a part of the plot of the story. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a portal piece, wherein the portal piece represents either a portal for jumping from the one of the plurality of connectible pieces to another portal piece. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a location piece, wherein the location piece represents a place for visiting in the plot of the story. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for playing a maze game with storytelling, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of connectible pieces collectively representing a maze when connected to each other, wherein the plurality of connectible pieces includes a first connectible piece,
 wherein the first connectible piece includes a first segment of a path and a first character, wherein a plot of a story is created based on the first connectible piece when the path of the first connectible piece is connected to a second segment of the path and a second character on a second connectible piece of the plurality of connectible pieces, 
 wherein the plot of the story evolves when the second connectible piece attaches next to the first connectible piece by aligning a first edge of the first connectible piece with a second edge of the second connectible piece, causing a player to extend the path and to update the plot of the story based on a sequence of the first connectible piece and the second connectible piece, and 
 wherein the plot of the story further evolves as the path is iteratively connected to subsequent connectible pieces of the plurality of connectible pieces; and 
   an actor piece, wherein the actor piece is movable along the path to perform the storytelling based on evolving plots as the actor piece iteratively moves along the path starting at a start point toward an end point.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of connectible pieces include a sheet with a magnetized surface, and wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of:
 a start point piece or an end point piece, wherein the start point piece represents a starting point of the path, and wherein the end point piece represents a final terminal point of the path,   a prop piece, wherein the prop piece includes an illustration of an item to be picked up or claimed by the player at least in the plot of the story,   a transportation piece, wherein the transportation piece includes an illustrated piece of object for traveling a least in the plot of the story,   a portal piece, wherein the portal piece represents either a portal for jumping from the one of the plurality of connectible pieces to another portal piece,   a location piece, wherein the location piece represents a place for visiting at least in the plot of the story, or   a cul-de-sac piece, wherein the cul-de-sac piece represents a dead-end of the path.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the second segment of the path on the second connectible piece includes a multi-way junction of the path.