Abstract:
A stacking piece game includes a plurality of game pieces stackable in layers, with each game piece being associated with one of a plurality of task classes and one of a plurality of activities associated with the one task class. At least one of the game pieces includes a task class indicia identifying the one task class and an activity description of the one activity. The game is played by (1) stacking the game pieces in layers to form a tower; (2) removing one of the game pieces from the tower; (3) performing an activity determined in accordance with at least the indicia of the removed game piece; (4) returning the removed game piece to the tower upon completion of the activity; and (5) repeating the removing, and returning steps amongst players of the game until the tower collapses.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a game which is played using a set of stackable game pieces. In particular, the present invention relates to a game which employs a set of stackable game pieces which direct players to perform an activity upon manipulation of the game pieces.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Games using stackable game pieces are well known. For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,918, Kramer teaches a game in which players are provided with a set of game pieces of various shapes, and are required to stack the game pieces on top of each other in layers without causing the structure to collapse. Although such games may be suitable for young children, their simplicity would not maintain the interest of older children or adults.  
           [0003]    Other games using stackable game pieces have been developed having a greater level of difficulty than the traditional stacking piece game. In one such game, marketed under the trade-mark JENGA, a tower is constructed from a set of game blocks of generally elongate parallelepiped shape, with the blocks in each layer being perpendicular to the blocks in the layer above and the layer below. Players are required to remove a block from the tower and place it on the uppermost layer without toppling the tower. The ability to strategically select game blocks from the tower increases the level of difficulty of the game.  
           [0004]    More recently, a game marketed under the trade-mark JENGA ULTIMATE was developed having an even greater level of difficulty than JENGA. The game is played in a manner similar to JENGA, but employs of set of elongate coloured parallelepiped game blocks. A player rolls a die having coloured faces matching the colours on the game blocks, with the colour of the uppermost die face determining the colour of the game block which can be removed from the tower. By so limiting the number of blocks which can be removed, the level of difficulty of the game is increased.  
           [0005]    Although JENGA and JENGA ULTIMATE have been commercially successful, it is desirable to provide a stacking game using stackable game pieces which produces an even greater level of difficulty.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    According to the invention, there is provided a stacking block game, a stacking block game kit and a method of playing a stacking block game which addresses deficiencies of the prior art.  
           [0007]    The stacking block game, according to the invention, comprises a collapsible tower constructed from a plurality of layers of stacked building pieces. Each building piece is associated with one of a plurality of task classes and one of a plurality of activities associated with the one task class. At least one of the building pieces includes a task class indicia identifying the one task class and an activity description of the one activity.  
           [0008]    The stacking block kit, according to the invention, includes a set of game cards, and a plurality of game pieces. Each game card is associated with one of a plurality of task classes and one of a plurality of activities associated with the one task class. Further, each game card includes an activity description identifying the one activity. The game pieces are stackable in layers, with each game piece being associated with a respective one of the task classes and a respective one of the activities.  
           [0009]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the stacking piece game is played by (1) providing an assembly of game pieces; (2) removing one of the game pieces from the assembly; (3) performing an activity associated with the removed game piece; (4) returning the removed game piece to the assembly upon completion of the activity; and (5) repeating the removing, performing and returning steps amongst players of the game until a predetermined solution is reached.  
           [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the stacking piece game is played by (1) providing a tower of stackable game pieces for players of the game; and (2) rearranging the game pieces within the tower. According to this latter aspect, the arranging step comprising (a) each player removing one of the game pieces from the assembly, (b) performing an activity associated with the removed game piece, and (c) returning the removed game piece to the tower upon completion of the activity.  
           [0011]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each game piece comprises a stackable game piece which is marked with an indicia which identifies a task class to which the game piece belongs. Further, preferably a portion of the game pieces are marked with a description of a task consistent with the task class of the game piece. However, in an alternate embodiment, the task description is provided on a set of playing cards.  
           [0012]    Preferably, the game pieces are divided into three task classes, with one of the task classes comprising a truth task class in which the tasks of all the game pieces associated with the class identify a truth statement which a player must provide, and another of the task classes comprising a risk task class in which all the game pieces associated with the class identify a risk or a dare which a player must undertake, and the remaining task class comprising a user-defined task class in which a portion of the game pieces associated with the class identify a user-defined task.  
           [0013]    Preferably, each game piece is a parallelopiped-shaped game piece whose width is one-third its length. Initially, the game pieces are stacked in layers to form a tower, with each layer comprising three game pieces and the game pieces in each layer being oriented at a right angle relative to the game pieces in the layers immediately adjacent. Then, one of the players selects one of the task classes, and removes from the tower a game piece having the indicia associated with selected task class. The player then reads the description of the task associated with the game piece removed. If the removed game piece is associated with the truth task class, the player must provide the identified truthful statement. If the removed game piece is associated with the risk task class, the player must undertake the identified risk. If the removed game piece is associated with the user-defined task class and has an associated task, the player must perform the identified task.  
           [0014]    Once the identified task is completed to the satisfaction of the other players, the player returns the removed game piece to the uppermost layer of the tower. However, in an alternate embodiment, each player is provided with a “pass” card which entitles the player to return the removed game piece to the uppermost layer of the tower without performance of the identified task.  
           [0015]    If the player chooses not to complete the identified task, the player returns the removed game piece to the uppermost layer of the tower without performance of the identified task, selects and removes another game piece from the tower, and then returns this latter game piece to the uppermost layer of the tower upon performance of the task identified with the latter game piece. Also, if the removed game piece is associated with the user-defined task class but has no associated task, the player may return the removed game piece to the uppermost layer of the tower without performance of a task.  
           [0016]    Each player takes turns removing a game piece, and returning the removed game piece until the tower collapses. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of three stacking game pieces used in the stacking piece game according to the invention; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tower comprising layers of the stacking game pieces shown in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    Turning to FIG. 1, a game piece for the stacking piece game, according to the invention, and denoted with reference numeral  10 , is shown comprising a substantially parallelopiped-shaped stacking block including a pair of opposed planar faces  12   a,    12   b,  a pair of opposed planar sides  14   a,    14   b,  and a pair of opposed planar ends  16   a,    16   b.  However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to parallelopiped-shaped game pieces, but may instead include interlocking blocks or any other game piece capable of being arranged to form a collapsible structure. Further, the game piece  10  may comprise a virtual game piece, implemented through computer software which simulates collapse of a structure comprising the virtual game pieces.  
         [0021]    Preferably, each game piece  10  is marked with a description of a task which a player of the game is required to perform as part of the game, with the task description being marked on a face  12  of the game piece  10 . However, some or all of the task descriptions may instead be marked on a side  14  of the respective game pieces  10 , if desired.  
         [0022]    Each game piece  10  is classified into a task class associated with the task described on the game piece  10 , and includes a task class indicia uniquely identifying the task class of the game piece  10 . The task class indicia may comprise a unique colour associated with each task class, or may comprise a symbol, combination of symbols or other suitable indicia. Preferably, the task class indicia is provided over the entire outer surface (comprising the faces  12 , the sides  14 , and the ends  16 ) of each game piece  10 , or is provided at least on one of the ends  16  of each game piece  10 . As will become apparent from the following discussion, this latter position ensures that the task class indicia of each game piece  10  is viewable by the game players.  
         [0023]    The game pieces  10  may be associated with one of any number of task classes. However, preferably the game pieces  10  are associated with one of three task classes: a truth task class, a risk task class, or a user-defined task class, with an equal number of game pieces  10  being associated with each task class.  
         [0024]    The truth task class comprises tasks which require a player to answer a question truthfully. Suitable task descriptions of the truth task class include, but are not limited to, the following questions:  
         [0025]    1. What&#39;s the best game you&#39;ve played in the dark? 
         [0026]    2. Which player flirts the most? 
         [0027]    3. What&#39;s the most fun time you&#39;ve had in a car? 
         [0028]    4. Ever been skinny-dipping? Details, please! 
         [0029]    5. What&#39;s your favorite battery-operated toy? 
         [0030]    6. Which player has the worst haircut? 
         [0031]    7. What&#39;s the worst thing your parents ever saw you do? 
         [0032]    8. What was your most embarrassing moment ever? 
         [0033]    9. If you could have anything, what would it be? 
         [0034]    10. Describe your worst moment at a party? 
         [0035]    11. Which player would you like to be stranded on a desert island with? 
         [0036]    12. Tell us about your first kiss? 
         [0037]    13. Have you ever gone out without your underwear? Details, please! 
         [0038]    14. What&#39;s your greatest fear? 
         [0039]    15. What&#39;s the most daring thing you&#39;ve ever done? 
         [0040]    16. Who&#39;s a dream date for the person on your right? Why? 
         [0041]    17. What&#39;s the most embarrassing thing you&#39;ve had to buy? 
         [0042]    18. Which famous personality do you have a crush on? Why? 
         [0043]    The risk task class comprises tasks which require a player to undertake a risk. Suitable task descriptions of the risk task class include, but are not limited to, the following risk undertakings:  
         [0044]    1. Blow in someone&#39;s ear.  
         [0045]    2. Stand up and sing a song.  
         [0046]    3. Slow dance with a broom.  
         [0047]    4. Remove an item of clothing.  
         [0048]    5. Tickle someone—your choice.  
         [0049]    6. Imitate a pop or rock star.  
         [0050]    7. Kiss the person on your left.  
         [0051]    8. Do an impression of a belly dancer.  
         [0052]    9. Mime three things you do before you go to sleep.  
         [0053]    10. Say something romantic to the person next to you.  
         [0054]    11. Blow a raspberry on someone&#39;s tummy.  
         [0055]    12. Pick another block.  
         [0056]    13. Sit on the lap of the person on your right, until your next turn.  
         [0057]    14. Impersonate someone in the room.  
         [0058]    15. Spin around ten times fast.  
         [0059]    16. Rub noses with another player.  
         [0060]    17. Pretend you&#39;re riding.  
         [0061]    18. Swap an item of clothing with someone else.  
         [0062]    The user-defined task class comprises tasks which are defined by the players. The user-defined class may comprise questions or undertakings which would otherwise suitably belong to the truth task class or the risk task class, or may comprise questions or undertakings which would not belong to either the truth task class or the risk task class. Preferably, the task descriptions of the game pieces  10  comprising the user-defined task class are inscribed in pencil or non-permanent ink onto the game pieces  10 .  
         [0063]    Preferably, the width of each game piece  10  is 1/“N” of the length of the game piece  10 , and the game pieces  10  are arranged substantially parallel to one another in layers each having a maximum number “N” of game pieces  10  to form a tower  18  of stacked game pieces  10 . However, the game pieces  10  need not be arranged to form a tower  18 . Rather, if the game pieces  10  comprise interlocking game pieces, for instance, the game pieces  10  may be arranged to form an alternate structure, such as a bridge.  
         [0064]    As shown in FIG. 2, preferably the width of each game piece  10  is ⅓ the length, and the game pieces  10  are arranged in the tower  18  in layers of three game pieces  10  per layer. Further, preferably each layer of the tower  18  comprises one game piece  10  from each of the task classes. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not so limited. Rather, in one variation, the game pieces  10  are randomly distributed throughout the layers of the tower  18 , and in another variation all the game pieces  10  in each layer of the tower  18  are members of a common task class.  
         [0065]    Preferably, the game pieces  10  are oriented such that the task class indicia of each game piece  10  is visible to each game player. Further, preferably the game pieces  10  in each layer are oriented at a right angle relative to the game pieces  10  in the layers immediately adjacent, and are laid on their faces  12  (with the task description being marked on the face  12 ) so that the task description marked on the game pieces  10  is not apparent from the assembled tower  18 . However, some or all of the game pieces  10  may be laid on their sides  14 , provided that the task description of each game piece  10  so oriented is not apparent from the assembled tower  18 .  
         [0066]    Once the game pieces  10  are arranged into the desired arrangement, as described above, one of the players is elected to start the game. The starting player may be elected on the basis of the relative ages of the players, on the basis of a roll of a die, or some other basis known to those skilled in the art. The starting player then selects a desired task class and, using one hand only, removes from the tower  18  one of the game pieces  10  having indicia associated with the desired task class. Preferably, the game piece  10  removed from a layer of game pieces  10  located below the uppermost layer of the tower  18 .  
         [0067]    The starting player then performs the task described on the removed game piece  10 . Once the task is performed to the satisfaction of the other players, the player returns the game piece  10  to the uppermost layer of the tower  18 , using one hand only. Preferably, the player positions the game piece  10  parallel to the other game pieces  10  in the uppermost layer, and ensures that the task class indicia of the game piece  10  is visible to each game player. Further, preferably the player positions the removed game piece  10  in the uppermost layer at a right angle to the game pieces  10  in the layer immediately below the uppermost layer.  
         [0068]    If the uppermost layer already includes the maximum number “N” of game pieces  10 , the player positions the game piece  10  on the existing uppermost layer, thereby creating a new uppermost layer. Alternately, the player may commence a new uppermost layer prior to the uppermost layer including the maximum number of “N” of game pieces  10 .  
         [0069]    The game continues with each game player in turn removing a game piece from the tower  18  and returning the game piece  10  to the uppermost layer of the tower  18 . If while removing or returning a game piece  10 , the tower  18  collapses, the game ends and the last player who returned a game piece  10  to the tower  18  is deemed to be the winner.  
         [0070]    Thus far, the invention has been described as requiring each player to perform the task identified on the removed game piece  10 . However, this stipulation is not an essential feature of the invention. In one variation, the player may elect to return the game piece  10  to the uppermost layer of the tower  18  without performing the required task. According to this variation, if the player returns the game piece  10  to the tower  18  without performing the required task, the player must then select and remove another game piece  10  from the tower  18 , as described above, and then return this latter game piece  10  to the uppermost layer of the tower  10  upon performance of the task identified with the latter game piece  10 . Alternately, in another variation, each player is provided with one or more “pass” cards which a player may utilize to return a removed game piece  10  to the uppermost layer of the tower  18  without performing the required task.  
         [0071]    Thus far, the invention has been described as requiring each game piece  10  to include a task description. However, this stipulation is also not an essential feature of the invention. Rather, a portion of the game pieces  10  may exclude a task description to provide an element of variability to the invention. Consequently, in yet another variation, a description of a truth task is provided on each game piece  10  comprising the truth task class, and a description of a risk task is provided on each game piece  10  comprising the risk task class, but a task description is excluded from a portion of the game pieces  10  comprising the user-defined class. According to this variation, if a player removes a game piece  10  from the tower  18  and the removed game piece  10  does not include a description of a task, the player may return the game piece  10  to the uppermost layer of the tower  18  without performing any required task.  
         [0072]    In another variation of the invention, none of game pieces  10  are marked with a task description. Rather, the task descriptions are provided on the faces of playing cards, with each playing card back including indicia corresponding to the task class of the described task, and each game piece  10  including task class indicia corresponding to one of the task classes. Preferably, the playing cards are grouped into piles according to their respective task class, with the cards facing down to prevent the players from viewing the description on a card until removed from its pile. According to this variation, the player selects a desired task class and, using one hand only, removes from the tower  18  one of the game pieces  10  having indicia associated with the desired task class. The player then removes a playing card from the card pile associated with the selected task class, and performs the task described on the removed playing card. As above, once the task is performed to the satisfaction of the other players, the player places the removed game piece  10  on the uppermost layer of the tower  18 .  
         [0073]    Further, the invention has also been described as requiring each game piece  10  to include task class indicia oriented such that the task class indicia of game pieces  10  is visible by each game player. However, this stipulation is also not an essential feature of the invention, but may be eliminated from the game pieces  10  altogether. Consequently, in yet another variation of the invention, some or none of the task class indicia are visible by the game players. According to this variation, the player selects one of the game pieces  10  from the tower  10 , and then removes a playing card from the card pile associated with the selected task class, and performs the task described on the removed playing card.  
         [0074]    Alternately, the task class indicia may be eliminated from the game pieces  10  and the playing cards, with the playing cards being distributed randomly into a single pile. The player selects one of the game pieces  10  from the tower  10 , and removes a playing card from the pile, and then performs the task identified on the removed playing card. This latter variation is advantageous where all the tasks are classified into a single task class, such as trivia questions. According to this variation, the player collects points for each correct answer. The player is allowed to continue to answer questions until the first incorrect answer, at which time the player must return the game piece  10  to the tower. The player with the highest total when the tower collapses is deemed to be the winner of the game.  
         [0075]    The present invention is defined by the claims appended hereto, with the foregoing description being illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Those of ordinary skill may envisage certain additions, deletions and/or modifications to the preferred embodiment which, although not explicitly identified or suggested herein, do not depart from the spirit or scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.