Abstract:
A game and its associated method of play. The game contains a plurality of object areas in which game objects may be placed. Game objects are randomly added to, or removed from, the object areas one by one. Before the addition or removal of each new object, the player is made to visualize a neutral field of play that is either completely filled with game objects or devoid of game objects. As such, each time a player views the object areas, an additional game object has been added or removed, but the player does not know which object has just been added. Using memories of the object areas when last viewed, a player tries to identify which of the game objects present is the game object that was just added or removed. If the player selects correctly, the cycle is repeated and another game object is randomly added or removed. If the player selects the wrong game object, the game ends.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to pattern games, wherein during the course of play, a player is required to memorize a specific pattern. More particularly, the present invention game and method of play relate to games where a player is provided with a momentary glimpse of a pattern, and is then required to remember that pattern in order to advance in the game during the course of play. 
     2. Prior Art Statement 
     The prior art is replete with different types of memory games that require players to memorize patterns. Through the years, such pattern games have been created in many forms. For instance, there are many different types of card games that require players to remember the position and the image of a specific card among a plurality of cards. Many board games have also been created, where players must remember patterns hidden under game pieces. Such board games are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,458 to Snyder, entitled Memory Maze Game. 
     However, with modern games, patterns are typically presented to players in an electronic format. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,638 to Morrison, entitled Microprocessor Controlled Game Apparatus, an electronic display board is provided that contains a hidden maze pattern. Players must try to discover the hidden maze pattern using trial and error and by remembering the parts of the maze pattern previously discovered. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,482 to Goldfarb, an electronic pattern memory game is disclosed. In this game, lights associated with different buttons are lit in some predetermined sequence. After the game electronically lights the sequence of lights, a player must push the various buttons in the same sequence as the lights that were lit. If the player is successful, the sequence of the pattern is increased in length to make the game increasingly difficult. 
     From the above, it will be understood that many games exist that require a player to memorize a particular pattern and remember that pattern in order to advance in the play of the game. Such memory games come in many formats including cards games, board games and electronic games. The present invention game and method of play provides a new type of pattern recognition game that can be applied to the known formats of card games, board games and electronic games. The present invention game and method of play require a player to use his/her pattern recognition skills and short term memory in a new and entertaining way, as will be described and claimed below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a game and its associated method of play. The game contains a plurality of object areas in which game objects may be placed. Game objects are randomly added to, or removed from, the object areas one by one. Before the addition of each new object, the player is made to visualize a neutral field of play that is either completely filled with game objects or devoid of game objects. As such, each time a player views the object areas, an additional game object has been either added or removed, but the player does not know which part of the pattern has just been changed. Using memories of the object areas when last viewed, a player tries to identify which of the game objects present is the game object that was just added or removed. If the player selects correctly, the cycle is repeated and another game object is randomly added. If the player selects the wrong game object, the game ends. 
     The present invention game and method of play can be configured as software, an electronic game, a board game or a card game. In all formats, the method of play remains consistent. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating a game field and showing how the appearance of the game field changes during the course of play; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of an electronic game that can be used to play the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a board game that can be used to play the present invention game; 
     FIG. 4 is perspective view of card sets that can be used to play the present invention game; and 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram logic flow illustrating the method of play for the present invention game. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Although the present invention game can be adapted to many different formats, the method of play associated with the game remains the same. As such, by way of example, the present invention game will be described in four separate formats, wherein each of the formats retains the same basic method of play. The formats illustrated are merely exemplary and it should be understood that the game can be adapted to other undescribed formats that are intended to be included within the scope of the description and the claims. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a display monitor  10  is shown. The display monitor  10  can either be a computer monitor or a television monitor. The game field  12  is shown on the display monitor  10 , wherein the game field  12  is used in the play of the game. If the display monitor  10  is a computer monitor, the game field  12  can be generated by a computer using dedicated game software. Alternatively, the game field  12  can be downloaded to a computer using an Internetconnection to a website that contains the game software. If the display monitor  10  is a television monitor, the game field  12  can be provided by a game interface, such as the Nintendogame system or the PlayStationgame system. 
     The game field  12  contains a plurality of object areas  14 . The object areas  14  are presented in a pattern throughout the game field  12 . In the shown embodiment, the object areas  14  are circles that are arranged in a plurality of rows and staggered columns. Such an arrangement is merely exemplary and is must be understood that the object areas  14  can have any shape or can have different shapes. It should also be understood that the object areas  14  can be arranged in any pattern, including random patterns throughout the game field  12  or any part of the game field  12 . 
     Referring to Step  1  in FIG. 1 it will be understood that to play the game, an object  16  is first presented in one of the object areas  14 . In the shown example, the object  16  presented is a smile face. The first object  16  is shown in one object area  14  for a time period T 1  that can be indefinite. After a player decides to proceed, Step  2  occurs. In Step  2 , the game field  12  is either cleared of all objects or completely filled with objects, in order to present a neutral game field. In the shown illustration, a neutral game field devoid of any objects is shown. The neutral game field is displayed for a second period of time T 2 . The second period of time T 2  can be a fraction of a second or a period as long as ten seconds. After a second time period T 2 , Step  3  occurs. 
     In Step  3 , the first object  16  again appears in the same object area position in the game field. However, the first object  16  is now joined by a second identical object  17  in one of the other object areas  14 . At this point, a player must now identify which of the two shown objects  16 ,  17  is the new object  17  that did not appear in Step  1 . The player can be provided with a limited time period T 3  in which to identify the new object  17  or an unlimited period of time can be provided. 
     A player can identify the new object  17  in many ways. If the game field is on a computer monitor, a player can point and click on the new object  17  using a mouse curser. If a game field is present on a television monitor using a game system, the control pads of the game system can be utilized to select the object believed to be new. If a player successfully selects the new object  17 , the game progresses to Step  4 . In Step  4 , the game field  12  is again shown to be neutral for the same predetermined period of time T 4  as was provided in Step  2 . After that period of time T 4  has passed, Step  5  occurs. In Step  5 , the previously displayed two objects  16 ,  17  are now joined with a third object  18  in a third randomly selected object area  14 . The player must now identify which of the shown objects  16 ,  17 ,  18  is the newly displayed third object  18 . If the player is successful, the game continues by adding a subsequent object to the game field  12 . In between each addition of a new object, the game field  12  is shown as a neutral field. This process continues until there are no longer any unused object areas  14  in the game field  12 . If a player completes the pattern and enables the whole game field to be filled, that player wins. However, if a player identifies an old object as the newly added object, the player loses and the game ends. 
     It will be understood that the level of difficultly associated with the game depends upon the number of object areas  14  presented on the game field  12 , the pattern in which the game field  12  is filled and the visual confusion created by the game field  12 . In the illustrated example, simple circular object fields are used that are filled with smile faces. However, much more confusing game fields can be used. For example, the game field can be designed as a wall of crowded bookshelves. The objects added can be books of different colors, heights and widths randomly added to the bookshelves. In such a scenario, the clutter of books already on the bookshelves create a good deal of visual confusion, thereby making the game harder to play. 
     Another example can use a theme landscape, such as a farm, firehouse, kitchen or the like, as the game field. If a theme landscape is used for the game field, the objects that are added or removed would have the same theme, as does the game field. For example, if the game field is a barnyard, the objects added or removed can be farm animals, farm equipment, crops and other objects a person would expect to see in a barnyard. 
     It should also be understood that the method of play described in relation to FIG. 1 can be reversed. In the method embodied by FIG. 1, an object was added to the game field after each successful turn. It will be understood, that the method of play can also be played in reverse, wherein a game field full of objects is provided and an object is removed at each turn. The player must then identify what object was removed rather than what object was added. Accordingly, the present invention can be played either by adding or removing objects from the game field. 
     Referring top FIG. 2, a dedicated electronic game  19  is shown. On the game are a plurality of buttons  21 . The buttons  21  can be selectively illuminated by internal circuitry. To play the game, one of the buttons  19  is illuminated for a period of time. Either the one illuminated button is turned off or all of the buttons  19  are then illuminated to provide a neutral field. The first illuminated button is then again illuminated with a second illuminated button. A player must press the newly illuminated button to play the game. The board game  19  can thereby be played in the same manner as was described with reference to FIG.  1 . 
     Control buttons  23 , such as on/off buttons, volume controls, difficulty level controls and the like can be provided on the game  19 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a board game version of the present invention is disclosed. In this embodiment of the invention, a board game  20  is provided having a playing surface  22 . The playing surface  22  is covered by a lid  24  that can be selectively used to cover the playing surface  22 . A plurality of pattern cards  26  and cover cards  28  are provided with the game. On the surface of each pattern card  26  is a printed pattern of a plurality of object areas  30 . The printed pattern of object areas  30  can be any design. However, the row and column pattern used in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is again used to help provide continuity between the embodiments. The cover cards  28  show the same pattern as is on the pattern cards  26 , except the object areas are shown covered by the images of playing pieces  32 . As such, the pattern cards  26  show patterns and the cover cards  28  show those same patterns covered with images of playing pieces  32 . 
     Physical playing pieces  34  are provided. The playing pieces  34  are objects that can be placed on the pattern cards  26 . When all the object areas  30  of the pattern card  26  are covered with playing pieces  34 , the pattern card  26  has the same appearance as does the cover card  28 . 
     To play the game, a pattern card  26  is placed over the playing surface  22  and a cover card  28  is placed over the lid  24 . One player places a playing piece  34  onto the pattern card  26 . The placement of the initial piece is shown to a second player. The lid  24  is then used to block the view of the pattern card  26  and a second playing piece  34  is placed on the pattern card  26 . The lid  24  is then rotated out of the way and the second player must identify which of the playing pieces  34  has just been added. This cycle continues until the pattern card  26  is filled with playing pieces  34  and the pattern card  26  has the same appearances as does the cover card  28 . 
     It will therefore be understood that the method of play associated with the game board of FIG. 3 is the same as the electronic version of the game described in association with FIG.  1 . Except, in FIG. 3, instead of the game board electronically changing at set intervals, the lid  24  of the game board is used to momentarily obstruct the pattern card  26  as a new game piece is manually added. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, one of the simplest versions of the present invention game is illustrated. In this version the game is a card game  40 . To play the game, two sets of cards are provided. The two sets of cards include object cards  42  and pattern cards  44 . The object cards  42  contain cards with an object image on its face side and a generic image on its back side. All the object cards  42  in a set are identical. The pattern cards  44  illustrate the object cards  42  arranged in some pattern, wherein all of the cards are illustrated either face up or face down. 
     To play the game, a first player arranges the object cards  42  face down in a pattern that matches one of the patterns on one of the pattern cards  44 . One object card is then turned over and a second player looks at the object cards  42 . The second player is then told to turn around and look at the pattern card  44  that matches the pattern used in laying out the object cards  42 . While the second player is looking at the pattern card  44 , the first player turns over a second object card  42  and the second player is asked to again look at the object cards  42 . The second player must then identify the newly turned object card  42 . If successful, the cycle is repeated until all of the object cards  42  are turned. 
     In the embodiments of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG.  3  and FIG. 4, the method of play remains the same eventhough the medium through which the game is presented varies. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the method of play that remains constant has the following steps. As is indicated by Block  50 , a pattern field of object areas is provided, wherein each of the object areas has the same appearance. To start the game, one object is displayed in one of the object areas. See Block  52 . The player is allowed to see the object areas and observe the object placement on the object areas. See Block  54 . The player then momentarily views an image of a neutral pattern field, wherein all of the object areas have the same appearance. See Block  56 . During this period, another object is added to the pattern field and the pattern field is then shown to the player. The player must then identify which of the objects displayed on the pattern field is the newly added object. See Block  58 . If the player does not successfully identify the new object, the game is over. However, if the player does successfully identify the newly added object, the cycle is repeated until the player fails to recognize the new object or until all the object areas in the pattern field are filled. 
     It will be understood that the game and method of play for the present invention that are described and illustrated are merely exemplary and a person skilled in the art can make many variations to the shown embodiment. All such alternate embodiments and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined below in the claims.