Patent Publication Number: US-2006012123-A1

Title: Social game and method of playing the same

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The present invention is a social game and method of playing the same wherein players may attempt to complete tasks, such as answering questions, performing acts, following instructions, or reading facts, quotes, or sayings, in order to earn points upon successfully completing each task. More particularly, the present invention is a social game and method of playing the same comprising a plurality of cards. Each card has at least one task for a cardholder player to attempt to complete, such as at least one question for a cardholder player to answer, at least one act for a cardholder player to perform, at least one instruction for a cardholder player to follow, or at least one fact, quote or saying for a cardholder player to read. When a cardholder player successfully completes a task on a card, a cardholder player earns a predetermined amount of points. Additionally, where a task requires another player to guess what a cardholder player is acting, the player that correctly guesses/answers may also earn at least one point. The first player to earn a predetermined total number of points wins the game. The present invention may also be played using alcoholic beverages throughout the course of the game, but only by players twenty-one (21) years of age and older.  
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      Various board games and card games testing the knowledge and/or skill of the players have been known for years and have become popular in recent years. These games generally involve a game board wherein a player moves along a predetermined playing path described over a portion of the board, with the playing path being common to all players. Players advance along the playing path according to each player&#39;s degree of success in correctly responding to randomly selected questions, usually contained in a deck of question and answer cards. The player having a greater knowledge in the given subject or field of the games almost always wins the games. However, many of the questions in the games are difficult or complex so that many average players cannot usually win the games or even correctly respond to the questions. As such, the games may last an exceptionally long time or players may become bored or discouraged, thereby leading them to quit playing the games before there is a winner.  
      As such, a need exists for a social game wherein the players do more than try to answer difficult and complex questions. Specifically, there is a need for a social game where the players may be asked to do more than just answer questions, such as perform specific acts or follow specific instructions, wherein any level of player may be successful and ultimately be a potential winner of the game.  
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is a social game and method of playing the same wherein players of various skill levels may attempt to complete tasks, such as answering questions, performing acts, following instructions, or reading facts, quotes or sayings, in order to earn points upon successfully completing each task, and ultimately win the game. More particularly, the present invention is a social game and method of playing the same comprising a plurality of cards. Each card has at least one task for a cardholder player to attempt to complete, such as at least one question for a cardholder player to answer, at least one act for a cardholder player to perform, at least one instruction for a cardholder player to follow, or at least one fact, quote or saying for a cardholder player to read. When a cardholder player successfully completes a task, such as successfully answering a question, performing an act, following an instruction or reading a fact, quote or saying, a cardholder player may earn a predetermined amount of points. Additionally, where a task requires another player to guess what the cardholder is acting or doing, the player that correctly guesses/answers may also earn at least one point. The first player to earn a predetermined total number of points wins the game.  
      In the game of the present invention, the tasks listed on the plurality of cards may be divided into a plurality of categories. The tasks in each category may also be divided into various levels of difficulty. The greater the difficulty level of the task in the category, the more points that the task on the card is preferably assigned and the more points that a cardholder player may earn for successfully completing the task.  
      The game and method of the present invention may also be played using alcoholic beverages throughout the course of the game. This embodiment of the game may only be played by players twenty-one (21) years of age and older. In this embodiment, when a cardholder player successfully completes a task, the cardholder player may earn the predetermined amount of points that the task is assigned and may also distribute a corresponding amount/number of drinks, i.e., sips, of an alcoholic beverage to at least one other player.  
      Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a social game and method of playing the same wherein a player of any skill level may win the game by being the first player to earn a predetermined total number of points by successfully completing tasks, such as answering questions, performing acts, and/or following instructions, and thereby earning the predetermined amount of points that the tasks are assigned.  
      Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a social game and method of performing the same for players twenty-one (21) years of age and older, wherein a player may win the game by being the first player to earn a predetermined total number of points by successfully completing tasks, and earning the predetermined amount of points that the tasks are assigned, and upon earning those points, distributing a corresponding amount/number of drinks, i.e., sips, of an alcoholic beverage to at least one other player.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a social game that is fun, easy to understand and play, easy to transport and inexpensive, wherein a player wins the game by earning points by successfully completing a series of tasks.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Referring to the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of a card of the game of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a back view of an embodiment of the card of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a second embodiment of a card of the game of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention is a social game and method of playing the same wherein players of various skill levels may attempt to complete tasks, such as answering questions, performing acts, following instructions, or reading facts, quotes, or sayings, in order to earn points upon successfully completing each task, and ultimately win the game. More particularly, the present invention is a social game and method of playing the same comprising a plurality of cards  10 . Each card  10  has at least one task  12  for a cardholder player to attempt to complete, such as at least one question for a cardholder player to answer (and the correct answer), at least one act for a cardholder player to perform, at least one instruction for a cardholder player to follow, and/or at least one fact, quote or saying for a cardholder player to read. When a cardholder player successfully completes a task  12 , such as successfully answering a question, performing an act, following an instruction, and/or reading a fact, quote or saying, the cardholder player may earn a predetermined amount of points  14 . Additionally, where a task requires another player to guess/answer what the cardholder player is acting or doing, the player that correctly guesses/answers may also receive at least one point, such as optionally in the form of a chip or token, which serves as an incentive for the other players to try to guess the correct answer to the cardholder player&#39;s task  12 . The first player to earn a predetermined total number of points wins the game.  
      The game of the present invention may also be played using alcoholic beverages throughout the course of the game. This embodiment of the game of the present invention may only be played by players twenty-one (21) years of age and older. In this embodiment, when a cardholder player successfully completes a task  12 , as described above, the cardholder player may earn the predetermined amount of points  14  that the task  12  is assigned and may also distribute a corresponding amount/number of drinks, i.e., sips, of an alcoholic beverage to at least one other player, as described hereinafter.  
      In the game of the present invention, the tasks  12  listed on the plurality of cards  10  may be divided into a plurality of categories. The tasks  12  in each category may also be divided into various levels of difficulty. The greater the level of difficulty of the task  12  in the category, the more predetermined amount of points  14  that the card  10  is preferably assigned and the more points that a cardholder player may earn for successfully completing the task  12 .  
      The level of difficulty of the task  12  of each card  10  may be listed on the front  18  of the card  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , or on the back  20  of the card  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , by a difficulty indicator  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the difficulty indicator  16  is a diamond of a specified color which illustrates the difficulty level of the task  12  on the specific card  10 . For example, a green diamond may represent an easy level task, a red diamond may represent an intermediate level task, and a black diamond may represent a challenging level task. While a preferred difficulty indicator  16  is a diamond of a specified color, any suitable indicator may be used to designate the level of difficulty of the task  12  on each card  10  including, but not limited to, any symbol having any color pattern, any number or set of numbers, any predefined symbol pattern, and any predefined marking or series of markings.  
      In a preferred embodiment of the game of the present invention, the predetermined amount of points  14  that the task  12  of each card  10  is worth may also be listed on the front  18  of the card  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , or on the back  20  of the card  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The predetermined amount of points  14  is preferably listed on the card  10  near the difficulty indicator  16 . Also in a preferred embodiment, the predetermined amount of points  14  assigned to each task  12  ranges in a point value from one point to eight points, wherein one point is preferably assigned to the easiest level task and eight points is preferably assigned to the most difficult or challenging level task. However, the predetermined amount of points  14  may be listed on the card  10  in any location and any suitable point range may be utilized in accordance with the game and method of the present invention.  
      In a preferred embodiment of the game, the plurality of cards  10  may include at least one rule reminder card. The rule reminder card is a quick reference card that describes the general rules and reminders for the game. Specifically, the rule reminder card may describe the meaning for, but not limited to, Hints, “Act Out”, “*GrOuP*”, “Shhhhhh! Later!”, “Shhhhhh! Do so silently!”, social cards, and guessing cards. An example of a preferred rule reminder card is as follows:  
     EXAMPLE  
     *Rule Reminder Card*  
     
         
          HINTS—person, place, thing, action, expression, celebrity, character from a movie, character from a television show, character from a book, and song title/lyric.  
          “Act Out”—means to act like the person, place, or thing that is written on the card. The player may use sounds and actions unless noted otherwise.  
          *GrOuP*—the participation of the whole group is required. The cardholder will start, and moving clockwise the next player will name another item in the listed category (e.g., type of flower). The first player who cannot think of a new item (e.g., type of flower) or repeats an answer that has already been given, thereby ends the round. This player may also optionally drink a sip of an alcoholic beverage.  
          “Shhhhhh! Later!”—means do not tell the other players what you are up to. Simply say the word “later”, which means you will do the task later. The object is to catch the other players off guard and do your task ‘discreetly’ later in the game.  
          “Shhhhhh! Do so silently!”—means that you may not make any sound during your performance of the task.  
          Social cards—are for the cardholder only. Do not pass drinks out during this round.  
          Guessing Cards—All cards that say Hum and/or Act Out. These cards are to be performed by the cardholder player and guessed by the other players. The cardholder is allowed to give a basic hint to the other players. (See HINTS).  
          The cardholder receives the points of all cards that suggest a partner.  
          1 drink=1 small sip.  
       
    
      As described above, the tasks  12  on the plurality of cards  10  may be divided into a plurality of various categories. In a preferred embodiment, the categories include, but are not limited to, Rock Stars, Usual Suspects, Theater, All That Word Jazz, Pranksters, Social Cards and any other suitable category. Specifically, the Rock Stars category preferably comprises the tasks of humming a particular song so that another player may guess the song, performing a music related act so that another player may guess the answer, and/or answering musical trivia questions. The answer to any trivia question is preferably located somewhere on that card  10 , such as on the back  20  of the card  10 . The Usual Suspects category preferably comprises the tasks of answering random trivia questions relating to popular culture, known facts, and general trivia. The answer to any trivia question is preferably located somewhere on that card  10 , such as on the back  20  of the card  10 . The Theater category preferably comprises the tasks of “acting out” various persons, places or things, such as in charades, so that another player may guess the act. The All That Word Jazz category preferably comprises the tasks of performing various acts relating to words, slang and sounds. The Pranksters category preferably comprises the tasks of performing a dare, an act, a prank or a stunt. The Social Cards category preferably comprises (1) tasks to perform relating to drinking an alcoholic beverage, which is used in conjunction with an alcoholic drinking embodiment of the game and/or (2) an interesting fact, quote or saying, which is used in conjunction with a non-alcohol embodiment of the game.  
      The following are examples of the types of tasks  12  in each of the preferred categories and the preferred corresponding predetermined amount of points  14  assigned to the task  12 . While the examples of tasks  12  in each of these categories and the predetermined amount of points  14  are preferred, they are only illustrative and are not intended to limit the invention.  
                               Example: Rock Stars Category                                                1 point   Hum . . . “YMCA”           2 points   Act Out: playing the trumpet           2 points   Do the moonwalk           3 points   Hum . . . “Hound Dog” by Elvis           4 points   Hum . . . “Under the boardwalk”           4 points   Q: What was the longest Shakespeare play?               A: Hamlet           5 points   With a prop, play an air instrument           6 points   Imitate one of your friends dancing (one group               player must successfully guess who you are               imitating)           6 points   Act Out: Elvis           7 points   Sing like an Opera singer           7 points   Q: How much does the biggest disco ball weigh?               A: 304 lbs.           8 points   Q: How large is the largest playable guitar in               the world? A: 38 ft. tall, 16 ft. wide, weight               1,865 lbs.                      
 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Example: Usual Suspects Category 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1 point 
                 Q: How many feet are in one yard? A: 3 
               
               
                   
                 2 points 
                 Q: How many colors do M&amp;Ms come in? A: six 
               
               
                   
                 3 points 
                 Q: Why does a desert get cold at night? 
               
               
                   
                   
                 A: There is no water to hold in the heat from the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 daytime. 
               
               
                   
                 3 points 
                 Q: How do you tell the age of a horse? 
               
               
                   
                   
                 A: the teeth 
               
               
                   
                 3 points 
                 Q: How fast can a cheetah run? A: 60 mph 
               
               
                   
                 4 points 
                 Attempt to name everyone&#39;s favorite color. 
               
               
                   
                 4 points 
                 Q: Where is the southern most point of the United 
               
               
                   
                   
                 States? A: Key West 
               
               
                   
                 5 points 
                 Q: Where is Mt. Rushmore? A: South Dakota 
               
               
                   
                 5 points 
                 Q: Which kind of jelly fish is the most harmful? 
               
               
                   
                   
                 A: man-of-war 
               
               
                   
                 6 points 
                 Q: Name the nearest star. A: the sun 
               
               
                   
                 6 points 
                 Q: What animal is the largest, most powerful, and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 most gentle? A: African elephant 
               
               
                   
                 7 points 
                 Q: Where is the largest waterfall in the world 
               
               
                   
                   
                 located? A: Venezuela 
               
               
                   
                 8 points 
                 Q: How many seconds are there in one hour? 
               
               
                   
                   
                 A: 3,600 
               
               
                   
                 8 points 
                 Q: How far away is the sun? A: 93 million miles 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Example: Theater Category 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1 point 
                 Act Out: golfing 
               
               
                   
                 2 points 
                 Act Out: surfing 
               
               
                   
                 2 points 
                 Act Out: a cowboy 
               
               
                   
                 3 points 
                 Act Out: an umpire 
               
               
                   
                 3 points 
                 Act Out: galloping on a horse (Shhhhhh! Do so 
               
               
                   
                   
                 silently!) 
               
               
                   
                 5 points 
                 Act Out: Spiderman 
               
               
                   
                 6 points 
                 Act Out: being chased by a bear 
               
               
                   
                 7 points 
                 Act Out: a shooting star 
               
               
                   
                 8 points 
                 Act Out: a clock (Shhhhhh! Do so silently!) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Example: All That Word Jazz Category 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1 point 
                 Talk like a valley girl. 
               
               
                   
                 3 points 
                 *GrOuP* Name different types of flowers. 
               
               
                   
                 3 points 
                 *GrOuP* Name different brands of shoes. 
               
               
                   
                 4 points 
                 Name as many words as you can that begin with “A”. 
               
               
                   
                 5 points 
                 Spell Mississippi backwards, without looking at 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this card! One chance only. 
               
               
                   
                 6 points 
                 Make 3 words out of the following letters: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 G E L N A (angle, angel, glean) 
               
               
                   
                 6 points 
                 Gobble like a turkey. 
               
               
                   
                 7 points 
                 Make a noise like water dropping. 
               
               
                   
                 8 points 
                 Tell a real secret. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Example: Pranksters category 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1 point 
                 High five everyone. 
               
               
                   
                 2 points 
                 Pretend you have the hiccups. (Shhhhhh! Later!) 
               
               
                   
                 3 points 
                 Without laughing, make someone else laugh. 
               
               
                   
                 4 points 
                 Pretend you slammed your hand in a door. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Shhhhhh! Later!) 
               
               
                   
                 5 points 
                 Have a staring contest with the person to your 
               
               
                   
                   
                 left. 
               
               
                   
                 6 points 
                 Do a magic trick. 
               
               
                   
                 7 points 
                 Act like you know everything. (Shhhhhh! Later!) 
               
               
                   
                 8 points 
                 Laugh annoyingly until someone notices. (Shhhhhh! 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Later!) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Example: Social Cards Category 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 2 points 
                 Take a picture. 
               
               
                   
                 LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE BITTER. 
               
               
                 3 points 
                 Change the song that is playing or put a song on. 
               
               
                   
                 TASTE SWEET BERRIES LIKE RAINDROPS FALL INTO 
               
               
                   
                 BITTERSWEET LOVE. 
               
               
                 4 points 
                 Dance break. 
               
               
                   
                 THE SUN&#39;S DIAMETER IS 860,000 MILES. 
               
               
                 5 points 
                 Do a handstand for as long as you can. 
               
               
                   
                 THERE IS OVER 140 MILLION SQUARE MILES OF 
               
               
                   
                 UNEXPLORED OCEAN FLOOR. 
               
               
                 6 points 
                 Take 2 shots of an alcoholic beverage. 
               
               
                   
                 ONE QUARTER OF THE BONES IN 
               
               
                   
                 YOUR BODY ARE LOCATED 
               
               
                   
                 IN YOUR FEET. 
               
               
                 7 points 
                 Spin in a circle for 30 seconds, then drink two 
               
               
                   
                 sips of an alcoholic beverage. 
               
               
                   
                 PISTACHIOS COME FROM SMALL 
               
               
                   
                 DECIDUOUS TREES WHICH 
               
               
                   
                 ARE NATIVE TO THE MIDDLE EAST. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
      Any card  10  may also have a suitable performance indicator  22  listed with a task  12 , such as shown in the examples above. A performance indicator  22  directs the cardholder player in attempting the task  12 . As such, a card  10  may have “*GrOuP*” listed with the task  12 . This means that the entire group of players participates in this question. The cardholder player is awarded the points for this task  12  if someone other than the cardholder player cannot complete the task  12  during his turn. For example, a task may be “*GrOuP*: Name different types of flowers”. The cardholder player starts by naming a type of flower and then each player must do the same. The round for this task  12  is finished when a player cannot name a flower or repeats an answer already given by a previous player. The cardholder player earns the predetermined amount of points  14  for the task  12  unless he is the reason that the round finished.  
      Any task  12  may be required to be discreetly performed later in the game and indicated with a performance indicator  22 . In a preferred embodiment, the later performance of a task  12  is preferably indicated by the expression “Shhhhhh! Later!” listed with the task  12  on the card  10 . However, any suitable delay indicator may be used. Any card  10  may also have a performance indicator  22  such as “Shhhhhh! Do so silently!” listed with the task  12 . In a preferred embodiment of the game, the cardholder player must perform this task  12  without making any sounds. While the above performance indicators  22  are preferred, any other suitable performance indicators may also be used.  
      Any of the tasks  12  on the cards  10  may be timed. As such, the cardholder player may only have a predetermined amount of time to successfully complete the task  12  to earn the predetermined amount of points  14  assigned to the task  12 . Accordingly, a timer may be included as part of the game of the present invention.  
      The game of the present invention may be stored in any suitable case. In a preferred embodiment, the case is a circular leather case with a metal zipper and a handle for easy transporting. The inside of the case may have at least one compartment for holding the plurality of cards  10 . Preferably, the case has four circular compartments for holding the cards  10 , timer and tokens. Separate containers may also be provided for storing the timer and any chips or tokens inside of the case.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the method of playing the game of the present invention commences by a first player choosing any one card  10 . The cardholder player attempts to complete the task  12  listed on the chosen card  10 . If the cardholder player successfully completes the task  12 , the cardholder player earns the predetermined amount of points  14  listed on the card  10  and may optionally retain the card  10  in order to keep a tally of the points that player has earned. In the embodiment of the game played in conjunction with alcoholic beverages, when the cardholder player earns the predetermined amount of points  14  assigned to the task  12  on the card  10 , the cardholder player may also distribute a corresponding amount/number of drinks, i.e., sips, of an alcoholic beverage to at least one other player. If the cardholder player does not successfully complete the task  12 , the cardholder player does not earn the predetermined amount of points  14 , does not distribute a number of drinks to at least one other player and may discard the card  10  into a separate pile. When the cardholder player successfully completes the task  12 , he may continue to choose additional cards and attempt to complete the tasks  12  thereon until he is unsuccessful, or each cardholder player may be limited to attempting to complete only one task  12  during each turn.  
      The method of playing the game then continues by the next player choosing a card  10  and proceeding as detailed above. The game continues until a player earns a predetermined total number of points. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined total number of points is 250 points. However, any suitable total number of points may be used, such as, but not limited to, 100 points for a shorter game or 350 points for a longer lasting game.  
      Throughout the game, as a cardholder player attempts to successfully complete a listed task  12 , he may use at least one predetermined hint. The at least one predetermined hint is preferably used with tasks  12  that require another player to correctly guess/answer what the cardholder player is acting or doing, wherein the hint assists the other players in guessing the correct answer to the task  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the at least one predetermined hint may include, but is not limited to, person, place, thing, action, expression, celebrity, character from a movie, character from a television show, character from a book, song title/lyric, and any other suitable hint. For example, if a card  10  has the task  12  of: “Act Out: Bob Barker from The Price Is Right”, the cardholder player may hint to the other players that the answer is a celebrity. Any of the hints may be used for any task  12  in any category whenever desired.  
      The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications can be made within the scope of the aforesaid description. Such modifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form a part of the present invention and are embraced by the appended claims.