What's in a Word Derivation Game

Abstract

An amusement game is provided comprising a plurality of hand-held dry-erase game writing pads. Additionally, the invention comprises a timer including a housing with an audible alert mechanism and a manual start button. The invention also comprises at least one set of game cards, each card displaying multiple words categorized into word length groups, specifically eight, nine, or ten letters. Gameplay comprises a moderator selecting a word from the chosen category, transcribing it onto a game chart, initiating the timer, and prompting players to generate as many derivative words as possible within a thirty-second interval, writing on their respective writing pads. Upon expiration of the timed period, players verbally present their word lists for group validation, record their verified scores, and proceed through successive rounds with increasing point values per word, culminating in a final cumulative score to determine the winner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A what's in a word derivation game comprising:
 a hand-held dry-erase game writing pad comprising a writing surface section;   a dry eraser marker pen comprised of a tip and an eraser configured for erasing ink markings from the writing surface section;   a timer comprising an audible alert mechanism, and a manual start button; and   a set of game cards comprising a plurality of individual cards, each of the individual cards comprising a front face and a rear face, wherein the front face and the rear face displaying a plurality of words categorized by a word length into a category group.   
     
     
         2 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 1 , wherein the hand-held dry-erase game writing pad is comprised of a scoring section. 
     
     
         3 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 1 , wherein the hand-held dry-erase game writing pad is comprised of a horizontal line. 
     
     
         4 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 1 , wherein the category group is comprised of a group of 8-letter words. 
     
     
         5 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 1 , wherein the category group is comprised of a group of  9 -letter words. 
     
     
         6 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 1 , wherein the category group is comprised of a group of 10-letter words. 
     
     
         7 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 1 , wherein the audible alert mechanism is configured to signal the expiration of a 30-second interval. 
     
     
         8 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 1 , wherein the timer further comprises a visual countdown indicator. 
     
     
         9 . A what's in a word derivation game comprising:
 a hand-held dry-erase game writing pad comprising a writing surface section;   a dry eraser marker pen comprised of a tip, a casing, and an eraser configured for erasing ink markings from the writing surface section;   a timer comprising an audible alert mechanism, a battery, and a manual start button; and   a set of game cards comprising a plurality of individual cards, each of the individual cards comprising a front face and a rear face, wherein the front face and the rear face displaying a plurality of words categorized by a word length into a category group.   
     
     
         10 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 9 , wherein the hand-held dry eraser game writing pad is comprised of a scoring section. 
     
     
         11 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 9 , wherein the hand-held dry eraser game writing pad is comprised of a horizontal line. 
     
     
         12 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 9 , wherein the category group is comprised of a group of 8-letter words. 
     
     
         13 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 9 , wherein the category group is comprised of a group of 9-letter words. 
     
     
         14 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 9 , wherein the category group is comprised of a group of 10-letter words. 
     
     
         15 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 9 , wherein the audible alert mechanism is configured to signal the expiration of a 30-second interval. 
     
     
         16 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 9 , wherein the timer further comprises a visual countdown indicator. 
     
     
         17 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 9 , wherein the timer is comprised of a charging port. 
     
     
         18 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 9 , wherein the dry erase marker pen is comprised of a magnet. 
     
     
         19 . The what's in a word derivation game of  claim 9 , wherein the hand-held dry eraser game writing pad is comprised of a magnetic surface layer. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a what's in a word derivation game, the method comprising the following steps:
 providing a what's in a word derivation game comprised of a hand-held dry eraser game writing pad, a dry eraser marker pen, a timer, and a set of game cards;   selecting a word length category group and a word from a game card of the set of game cards, transcribing the word onto a game chart, and then placing the game chart face down;   pressing a manual start button on the timer and announcing a beginning of a round;   flipping the game chart to reveal the word, generating a derivative word using a number of letters of the word, and then inscribing the derivative word on the writing pad;   ceasing writing upon an audible alert mechanism of the timer indicating an expiration of a time period and presenting the derivative word for validation;   recording a point based on a number of derivative words that were validated;   cumulatively tallying a point amount over a round; and   declaring a winner based on a score determined by a highest cumulative point amount.