Abstract:
A card deck comprising a plurality of cards of at least one type is provided as well as a method for playing a scavenger hunt game in a selected environment/population. The plurality of cards comprises at least one type of card bearing indicia representative of a goal/target normally occurring in the selected environment/population. Players are thereby dealt a predetermined number of cards and sent into the selected environment/population and must match the goal/target on each of their cards with targets normally occurring in the selected environment/population.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to games and gaming card decks, and more particularly, to a scavenger hunt-type card deck incorporating various types of goal/target-related cards such as personality trait, command and/or event cards. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for playing a scavenger hunt-type game incorporating a card deck having various types of cards. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Target-based search competitions, commonly referred to as “scavenger hunts”, have been long known in the game-playing field. Single players or teams of players are provided with a list of goals or targets in a first environment, sent into a second environment and must return to the first environment after searching out and locating each goal/target on their list. Typically, the player/team that first returns to the first environment wins the scavenger hunt. 
     However, these types of games are difficult to administer and require a great deal of time and effort to set up. First, the list of goals/targets provided to the players/teams must be recreated for each scavenger hunt and must typically be customized for the particular environment in which the players hunt for the goals/targets. Second, the administrator of the scavenger hunt typically cannot participate in the scavenger hunt since at least the administrator must know the location of some of the goals/targets on the list. Third, various environments have particular characteristics such as people having certain stereotypical characteristics or personality traits or certain events which tend to occur in that environment. It can be difficult to assemble and predict these events on a repeating basis for an administrator of a scavenger hunt to create a competitive and enjoyable competition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises a scavenger hunt-type card game incorporating personality trait, command and/or event cards and method for playing the same. 
     In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for playing a scavenger hunt-type game comprising the steps of: preselecting a social environment having a population of members with personality characteristics distinctive to the social environment; providing a plurality of targets, wherein the plurality of targets are provided on a plurality of cards, wherein the plurality of cards comprises at least one of: a first type of card having indicia representing a personality stereotype of a person conforming to at least one of the personality characteristics distinctive to the preselected social environment; a second type of card having indicia representing a command to be performed by one of the members of the population located in the preselected social environment, the command being related to the preselected social environment; and a third type of card having indicia representing a stereotypical event expected to occur with at least one member of the population in the preselected social environment, the event being related to the preselected social environment. Players are assigned a number of the plurality of targets to each player of the game; and must match each of the assigned number of the plurality of targets with: a first match type comprising a member of the population in the preselected social environment having at least one of the distinctive characteristics conforming to indicia on a card of the first type assigned to the player; a second match type comprising an act performed at the request of a player conforming to indicia on a card of the second type assigned to the player; and a third match type comprising an event witnessed by a player conforming to indicia on a card of the third type assigned to the player. 
     In another aspect, the invention relates to a scavenger hunt game comprising a set of targets identified at the outset of the scavenger hunt game and a set of players of the game, whereby the players set out to retrieve a set of the targets assigned to them and whereby a winner is declared as one of the set of players who retrieves each of the set of targets assigned to them. An improvement in the method of playing the scavenger hunt game comprises: providing an instruction limiting play to a preselected social environment having a population of members with personality characteristics distinctive to the preselected social environment, and a deck of cards comprising at least one of: a first type of card having indicia representing a personality stereotype of a person conforming to at least one of the personality characteristics distinctive to the preselected social environment; a second type of card having indicia representing a command to be performed by one of the members of the population located in the preselected social environment, the command being related to the preselected social environment; and a third type of card having indicia representing a stereotypical event expected to occur with at least one member of the population in the preselected social environment, the event being related to the preselected social environment. The players attempt to match the targets contained on cards dealt to them with: a first match type comprising a member of the population in the preselected social environment having at least one of the distinctive characteristics conforming to indicia on a card of the first type assigned to the player; a second match type comprising an act performed at the request of a player conforming to indicia on a card of the second type assigned to the player; and a third match type comprising an event witnessed by a player conforming to indicia on a card of the third type assigned to the player. 
     Various additional embodiments of the invention are also contemplated according to the invention. The method can further comprise the step of verifying that a player has performed the matching step prior to other players of the game. A player can be declared a winner who is determined to have passed the verifying step prior to other players of the game. 
     The plurality of cards can comprise cards of the first type and of the second type and the matching step must be matched against the first match type and the second match type. The plurality of cards can comprise cards of the first type and of the third type and the matching step must be matched against the first match type and the third match type. The plurality of cards can comprise cards of the first, second and third types and the matching step must be matched against the first, second and third match types. 
     The preselected social environment can be a nightclub and the first, second and third types of cards and the first, second and third match types conform respectively to personality characteristics, acts and events distinctive to a nightclub. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the concept for playing the game according to the invention wherein a number of cards are dealt from a card deck to members of a first population whom thereafter enter a second population/environment to play the game; 
     FIG. 2A is a schematic example of an operational side of a first type of card optionally contained in the card deck of FIG. 1 wherein the first type of card contains indicia representing a personality trait or stereotype; 
     FIG. 2B is a schematic example of an operational side of a second type of card optionally contained in the card deck of FIG. 1 wherein the second type of card contains indicia representing a command intended to be performed by a member of the second population/environment; 
     FIG. 2C schematic example of an operational side of a third type of card optionally contained in the card deck of FIG. 1 wherein the third type of card contains indicia representing an event intended to be witnessed in the second population/environment; and 
     FIG. 3 is a general flow chart outlining general instructions and process steps for playing the game of FIG. 1 according to the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, a scavenger hunt game  10  according to the invention is shown in schematic form. The game  10  employs a card deck  12  wherein subsets of a predetermined number of cards  14  of the card deck  12  are distributed (shown by example by arrow  16 ) to members of a first population P 1  shown by reference numeral  18 . Each of the cards  14  of the card deck  12  is provided with indicia representing a goal or target of the scavenger hunt of the game  10 . 
     Each member of the first population P 1  enter (shown schematically by arrow  20 ) a second population or environment P 2  shown by reference numeral  22 . The goal of the game  10  is to return from the second population/environment P 2  after locating each of the goals/targets on a player&#39;s subset of cards  14  before the other players. Of course, the rules of the game  10  can include a verification step wherein a player must verify to an administrator of the game  10  or to the other players that each of the targets/goals were located. 
     The game  10  contemplates at least three types of cards  14  to be included in the card deck  12 . Each of the at least three types can be included—or a reduced-type set comprising one or more of the first, second and third types of cards, i.e., the card deck  12  need only contain at least one of the types of cards. 
     FIG. 2A shows an operational side of a first type  24  of a card  14  contained in the card deck  12  wherein the first type  24  of the cards  14  contains first indicia  26  representing a goal/target comprising a human personality trait or stereotype. A player must identify a member of the second population/environment  22  (P 2 ) who has the characteristics embodying the personality trait or stereotype to satisfy the goal/target of the first type  28  of card  14 . 
     FIG. 2B shows an operational side of a second type  28  of a card  14  contained in the card deck  12  wherein the second type  28  of the cards  14  contains second indicia  30  representing a goal/target of a command to be performed. The player must convince a member of the second population/environment  22  (P 2 ) to perform the command to satisfy the goal/target of the second type  28  of card  14 . 
     FIG. 2C shows an operational side of a third type  32  of a card  14  contained in the card deck  12  wherein the third type  32  of the cards  14  contains third indicia  34  representing a goal/target of an event typically occurring in the second population/environment  22  (P 2 ). The player must witness the event in the second population/environment  22  (P 2 ) to satisfy the goal/target of the third type  32  of card  14 . The indicia can be of any known form, including text, graphic art work, Braille, etc. 
     FIG. 3 is a general flow chart outlining general instructions and process steps for playing the game of FIG. 1 according to the invention. In a first step  40 , the deck  12  of cards  14  containing at least one of the first, second and third types  24 ,  28  and  32 , respectively, are randomly ordered, preferably by shuffling. For the purposes of this description of the play of the game  10 , the deck  12  of cards  14  is deemed to have x first types  24  of cards  14 , y second types  28  of cards  14 , and z third types  32  of cards  14 . The numbers x, y and z of numbers of first, second and third types  24 ,  28  and  32 , respectively, can be zero although, preferably, one of the types  24 ,  28  and  32  of cards  14  must be greater than zero. Also, the total number of cards  14  (i.e., x+y+z) is preferably sufficient to provide the players of the game  10  with a sufficient number of cards  14  to make for a fun and competitive game. 
     Once the deck  12  is shuffled &lt; 40 &gt;, each of the players are provided with a predetermined number of cards &lt; 42 &gt;, which can vary depending upon the length and complexity of the game desired as well as upon the number of players. Obviously, with a higher number of players, fewer cards can be provided from a finite number of cards  14 . However, the length of the game can be extended as well as increasing the complexity of the game by providing the players with the highest number of cards. 
     Each of the players (first population P 1  shown by reference numeral  18  in FIG. 1) then enters the second population/environment P 2  (shown by reference numeral  22  in FIG. 1) &lt; 44 &gt;. To satisfy the goal/target on each of the player&#39;s cards, the player must achieve the goal/target on the card  14  in the second population/environment P 2  as described above with respect to the specific types  24 ,  28  and  32  of cards  14  in the deck  12  &lt; 46 &gt;. Once a player has claimed to have satisfied all of the goals/targets on the player&#39;s particular subset of cards  14 , an administrator or other players in the game  10  may require that the player claiming victory verify the existence or description of the accomplished goals/targets as identified on the cards  14  &lt; 48 &gt;, &lt; 50 &gt;. 
     It should be noted that the deck  12  can comprise multiple decks  12  each containing an identical assortment of cards  14  or a single deck  12  containing an assortment of cards  14 . In this manner, players can be either provided with the same or different set of cards depending upon the parameters desired for the game  10  without departing from the scope of this invention. 
     It is contemplated that the card deck  12  for the game  10  can be configured for multiple types of the second population/environment P 2 . 
     A first example of a configuration for the card deck  12  could be for a bar/nightclub atmosphere wherein the first, second and third types  24 ,  28  and  32  of cards  14  are specially configured for the bar/nightclub atmosphere. The first type  24  of cards  14 , namely, the personality trait cards, could be configured with indicia representing various bar/nightclub stereotypes such as a wildly dancing person, a person spilling drinks, an overly amorous person, etc. The second type  28  of cards  14 , namely, the command cards, could be configured with indicia representing various bar/nightclub requests such as requesting a drink from a person, requesting a dance from a person, etc. The third type  32  of cards  14 , namely, the event cards, could be configured with indicia representing typical bar/nightclub events such as a witnessing a spilled drink, witnessing a pick-up line, etc. 
     A second example of a configuration for the card deck  12  could be for children traveling such as by automobile to entertain them for an extended period. The first, second and third types  24 ,  28  and  32  of cards  14  could be configured for entertaining children. The first type  24  of cards  14 , namely, the personality trait cards, could be configured with indicia representing characteristics of people encountered while travelling such as an overly cautious driver, a speeder, etc. The second type  28  of cards  14 , namely, the command cards, could be configured with indicia representing various requests made while traveling such as requesting a rest stop, requesting a fast food break, requesting quiet (typically made by any parents in the vehicle), etc. The third type  32  of cards  14 , namely, the event cards, could be configured with indicia representing typical events encountered while travelling such as a witnessing one car cut off another, witnessing another vehicle exceeding the speed limit, witnessing a disabled vehicle or vehicles of a particular make or model, etc. 
     It will be understood that other configurations for the card deck  12  can be provided without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.