WO2002064227A1

WO2002064227A1 - An apparatus for playing a word game

Info

Publication number: WO2002064227A1
Application number: PCT/IB2002/000446
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Robert Plumb
Original assignee: Kevin Robert Plumb
Priority date: 2001-02-14
Filing date: 2002-02-14
Publication date: 2002-08-22

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a word game includes a plurality of boards (10), each being associated with a particular team or player. Each board (10) has a plurality of dedicated word forming zones (12-18), each zone being formed from a predetermined number of letter spaces (22) determinative of the length of the word to be formed. The apparatus also includes a plurality of letter tokens (36) for positioning on the letter spaces (22), the letter tokens (36) carrying values (38) proportional to the use with which they can be used in forming words.

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A WORD GAME

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to an apparatus for playing a word game.

One of the most popular word games, Scrabble ^®, comprises a single square playing board divided into a grid of fifteen rows and columns defining squares upon which letter tiles may be placed either vertically or horizontally to form words. One limitation of this game is that a player is limited to forming one or more words per turn using only his letter tiles and the letter tiles already in position on the board. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for playing a word game comprising a plurality of boards, each board being associated with a particular team or player, a plurality of dedicated word-forming zones, each word forming zone being formed from a predetermined number of letter spaces determinative of the length of the word to be formed, and a plurality of letter tokens for positioning on the letter spaces, the letter tokens carrying values proportional to the ease with which they can be used in forming words.

Preferably, each board has a table formed thereon indicative of the number of points associated with the completion of a word in a particular word-forming zone.

Conveniently, a letter storage zone, comprising a plurality of letter storage squares, is located on each board.

The word forming zones may be arranged in a series of adjacent rows or columns.

The word forming zones are preferably arranged in a pyramid of numbered rows, with each row comprising more letter spaces than the super or subjacent row.

The apparatus typically includes a plurality of proforma worksheets, each worksheet having a calculations zone and a scratch pad zone. The calculations zone may have a facsimile of the board printed thereon, and may include a calculations table and a deductions table.

The scratch pad zone may comprise a set of grids, each grid having a number of columns associated with a corresponding word forming zone. The present invention also extends to a method of playing a game using the above apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of board used in the playing of the word game of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a plurality of word tiles for positioning on the board of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a layout of a proforma sheet forming part of the word game apparatus; and

Figure 4 shows a top plan view of a junior version of a board used in the playing of the word game of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figure 1 , a playing board 10 forming part of the word game apparatus comprises four rows of word forming zones 12 to 18, identified as lines 1 to 4. The word forming zone 12 is made up of three letter spaces, or squares 22. The word forming zone 14 comprises five letter squares 22. The word forming zone 16 comprises seven letters squares 22 and the fourth and last word forming zone 18 comprises eleven letter squares 22. A final storage row 20 comprises five letter storage squares 22.

Referring now to Figure 2, a plurality of letter tokens or tiles 36 are also provided. A letter of the alphabet, such as A, B, C, etc. is printed thereon, followed by a numeric subscript value 38. The numeric subscript value 38 is proportional to the ease with which a word can be formed using that particular letter. For instance, "A", which can easily be used to form words, has a value of ten, whereas, "Z", which is more difficult to make use of in the forming of words, has a value of one. Six blank tiles 40 are also provided. A letter value and distribution table is printed on the board, and indicates, in columnar form, the value associated with each letter, as well the number of letter tiles which are available. Although the letter value and distribution table is not illustrated in Figure 1 , an example of the table is as follows:

Letter Value Distribution

A 10 18

B 6 4

C 6 4

D 9 8

E 12 24

F 5 4

G 8 6

H 6 4

I 10 18

J 3 2

K 4 2

L 9 8

M 7 4

N 10 12

0 9 16

P 7 4

Q 2 2

R 10 12

S 15 8

T 10 12 u 7 8

V 5 4 w 5 4

X 3 2

Y 5 4 z 2 2

BL 25 6 202

Also printed on the board is a points table indicating the row or line number of each word forming zone 12 to 18, and the number of points associated with completing a word in a particular row, by making use of the letter tiles. An example of the points table is as follows:

Word Length Line No. Score

3 1 50

5 2 150

7 3 200

8 4 250

9 4 300

10 4 350

11 4 500

Maximum Points 900

Turning now to Figure 3, a layout of a proforma sheet is divided into a calculations zone 24 and a scratch pad zone 26. The calculations zone has a space 28 marked thereon for indicating the name of the particular team or player. Below the space is a facsimile 30 of the rows on the board upon which the various words which have been formed may be written. A points calculation table 32 is provided for calculating the points scored at the end of the game. A deductions table 34 allows for the calculation of deductions. A copy of the letter value and distribution table (not shown) may also be provided below the deductions table for ease of reference.

The scratch pad zone 26 comprises a set of grids 12A to 18D, the number of columns which correspond to the number of letter squares 22 on the rows 12 to 18 on the board. The grids 12A to 18D are used to experiment in arranging and juggling letters by jotting them down to form words of the desired length.

The game starts with each player or team being handed a board 10 of the type illustrated in Figure 1. All the letter tiles are placed in an opaque bag and are shuffled. Each player or team draw 15 tiles out of the bag and places them wherever they wish on their board 10. Each player or team must complete a valid move each turn. The following valid moves are possible: PICK Pick a tile from the bag and place it on a VACANT block on any line 1-5.

INSERT Remove a tile from an OCCUPIED block in line 1-5, and place it on a VACANT block in line 1-5.

CHUCK Remove any number of tiles from line 5.

Record the Letter Tile values under the Deduction section of the Score Sheet

Return the removed tiles to the bag.

Receive the equal number of LETTER TILES from the bag.

Place the received tiles back on LINE 5 only.

SWAP Exchange a tile from LINE 1-5 with any other tile from LINE 1-5.

A player may in fact make up to three valid moves per turn.

Letter tiles must not be removed from the boards on completion of a line.

The game is over once the first player or team completes lines 1-4 with valid words. At this stage, the other players or teams have to calculate their scores using the calculations zone 24, provided the player or team who declared the game 'over' has Lines 1-4 complete, and with valid words in each Line. If not, play continues.

The six blank tiles may be used to replace any letter specified in the game. The identity of the blank tile must be revealed at the end of play if it forms part of a complete line and valid word.

No words may be formed on line 5, the storage row 20. Permitted words include those listed in a standard English dictionary, apart from those spelt with an initial capital letter, abbreviations, prefixes, suffixes, and words requiring apostrophes and hyphens. Foreign words are permissible, provided they appear in a standard English dictionary. Duplications of words are permitted.

Players and teams may not exchange word tiles or assist one another in any way.

A dictionary or any other reference work may consulted at any stage of play.

A valid word in line four may either be eight, nine, ten or eleven squares.

Scoring takes place at the end of play by allocating points for each line, namely lines one to four, that contain complete and valid words. The value of each letter tile on each of the lines one to four that does not form part of a complete and valid word is deducted using the deductions table 34. The letter value of each letter tile resident on the storage line five is deducted. The highest resultant score wins the game.

It is very important to note that a line is only allocated points if the line is complete with a valid English word. Thus the word "BOUND" on line two will be awarded 150 points whilst the word "SITE" on line two will not be awarded any points as it does not take up the complete line. Similarly, the word "SBRTE" on line two will not be awarded any points as, although it takes up the whole line, it is an invalid English word.

Furthermore, the letter tiles on line four are considered to be a complete word if the word takes eight or more squares. However, if there is a valid word in squares one to eight of line four and one or more extra letters in any one of squares nine to eleven, the valid word will be invalidated. Thus, the word "ADVERTISEKC" will not be considered as a complete, valid word. As an alternative to the game ending when a player completes lines 1-4 with valid words, the players may initially agree on setting a time limit to the game. When the time limit is reached, the points of each player are added up as described above.

Figure 4 illustrates the board for a junior version of the game. In this version of the game, the length of the lines are shorter than in the adult version.

Furthermore the letter distribution has been slightly altered as is indicated in the table below:

Letter Val Distribution

A 10 15

B 6 3

C 6 3

D g 6

E 12 20

F 5 3

G 8 4

H 6 3

I 10 15

J 3 1

K 4 1

L 9 6

M 7 3

N 10 10

0 9 12

P 7 3

Q 2 1

R 10 10

S 15 6

T 10 10 u 7 6

V 5 3 w 5 3

X 3 1

Y 5 3 z 2 1

BL 25 4 155 Finally, the scoring table has also been altered slightly due to the change in the board.

Sco ring Fable

Word Length Λne No. Score

2 1 50

3 2 150

4 3 200

5 4 250

6 4 300

7 4 450

Maximum Poir its _ 850

A tournament addition has also been developed in which a player starts with 11 letter tiles in round one instead of 15.

Furthermore, the minimum word length on line 4 at end of play is 9 letters long and not 8. The value of each letter tile on line 4 is deducted from the players overall score, if it does not form part of a valid 9, 10, or 11 letter word.

Typically, no dictionaries are consulted during play of the tournament version.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for playing a word game comprising a plurality of boards, each board being associated with a particular team or player, a plurality of dedicated word-forming zones, each word forming zone being formed from a predetermined number of letter spaces determinative of the length of the word to be formed, and a plurality of letter tokens for positioning on the letter spaces, the letter tokens carrying values proportional to the ease with which they can be used in forming words.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each board has a table formed thereon indicative of the number of points associated with the completion of a word in a particular word-forming zone.

3. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a letter storage zone, comprising a plurality of letter storage squares, is located on each board.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the word forming zones are arranged in a series of adjacent rows or columns.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the word forming zones are arranged in a pyramid of numbered rows, with each row comprising more letter spaces than the super or subjacent row.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of proforma worksheets, each worksheet having calculations zone and a scratch pad zone, the calculations zone having facsimile of the board printed thereon, and including calculations table and a deductions table.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the scratch pad zone comprises a set of grids, each grid having a number of columns associated with a corresponding word forming zone.

8. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the illustrated embodiments.