WO2002064227A1 - An apparatus for playing a word game - Google Patents
An apparatus for playing a word game Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2002064227A1 WO2002064227A1 PCT/IB2002/000446 IB0200446W WO02064227A1 WO 2002064227 A1 WO2002064227 A1 WO 2002064227A1 IB 0200446 W IB0200446 W IB 0200446W WO 02064227 A1 WO02064227 A1 WO 02064227A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- word
- letter
- zone
- board
- forming
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F3/00—Board games; Raffle games
- A63F3/04—Geographical or like games ; Educational games
- A63F3/0423—Word games, e.g. scrabble
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F11/00—Game accessories of general use, e.g. score counters, boxes
- A63F11/0051—Indicators of values, e.g. score counters
- A63F2011/0067—Score or tally sheets
Definitions
- THIS invention relates to an apparatus for playing a word game.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- a player may in fact make up to three valid moves per turn.
- the game is over once the first player or team completes lines 1-4 with valid words.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- a tournament addition has also been developed in which a player starts with 11 letter tiles in round one instead of 15.
- 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.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Educational Technology (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Toys (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ZA200101254 | 2001-02-14 | ||
ZA01/1254 | 2001-02-14 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2002064227A1 true WO2002064227A1 (en) | 2002-08-22 |
Family
ID=25589067
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2002/000446 WO2002064227A1 (en) | 2001-02-14 | 2002-02-14 | An apparatus for playing a word game |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
WO (1) | WO2002064227A1 (en) |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1048472A (en) * | 1963-03-26 | 1966-11-16 | Oliver Simmonds | Improvements relating to word games |
US4384722A (en) * | 1982-04-21 | 1983-05-24 | Higgins Robert W | Rapid pace word game |
US4637609A (en) * | 1982-08-02 | 1987-01-20 | Vanderhoof John R | Method for a game |
WO1996024415A1 (en) * | 1995-02-07 | 1996-08-15 | Alistair Graeme Hicks | Apparatus for a sentence game |
-
2002
- 2002-02-14 WO PCT/IB2002/000446 patent/WO2002064227A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1048472A (en) * | 1963-03-26 | 1966-11-16 | Oliver Simmonds | Improvements relating to word games |
US4384722A (en) * | 1982-04-21 | 1983-05-24 | Higgins Robert W | Rapid pace word game |
US4637609A (en) * | 1982-08-02 | 1987-01-20 | Vanderhoof John R | Method for a game |
WO1996024415A1 (en) * | 1995-02-07 | 1996-08-15 | Alistair Graeme Hicks | Apparatus for a sentence game |
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