Patent Publication Number: US-2021170263-A1

Title: Article and method for playing a game

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to the U.S. provisional patent application Serial Number filed 63/124,382, filed on Dec. 11, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method of playing games, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a card-based method of playing a game. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Games play an important part in human development. Games are a great source of recreation and a fundamental way of socializing. Moreover, playing games is essential for health, body, and mind. Playing games helps in skill development and improves cognition and coordination. Different games are available that involve different skillsets and mindsets, for example, physical games involve physical skillsets and brain games involve cognitive skills. People may get bore of old games and desire to try different and more challenging games. Thus, a desire is always there for new and more innovative games. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to a game that is innovative and challenging. 
     It is another object of the present invention that the game can be played between several persons. 
     In one aspect, disclosed is a game that can be played using cards. The game includes a deck of 200 game cards, wherein each room card is having a color, the name of the room written on one side, and the other side of each card having a task to be performed and a next room notice. 
     In one aspect, the game includes a deck of 30 player cards of the same color with the word guest or killer on one side, and also the notice to move to the next room, and SUS on the other side. 
     In one aspect, the game includes a deck of 5 emergency gathering cards. 
     In one aspect, the game includes a map pad that can be 8×10 inches and made of paper, the map pad having an area for players to draw a map of the rooms, and a square in the top right corner to put completed tasks onto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a front face of an emergency gathering card, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a rear face of the emergency gathering card, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a front face of a room card, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a rear face of a room card, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a front face of a player card, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a rear face of the player card, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front face of a Map Pad, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing a method of playing the game using the room card, player card, and the Map Pad. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent. 
     Disclosed is a game that can be played between people using instructions printed on cards. The game includes a Deck of 200 Room Cards as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B .  FIG. 2A  shows the front face of the card and upon which can be written is a name of a room. The room can be any room or enclosed space within a typical home. In one case, the game can include ten rooms including a Master Bedroom, Second Bedroom, Living Room, Family Room, Kitchen, Bathroom, Garage, Basement, Closet, Dining Room. It is however to be understood that different houses can have different rooms, and the same room can be known by different names. The names of all such types of rooms in a typical home are within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, the different residential and commercial buildings can be embodied in the disclosed game without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, the game can be played outdoors, wherein the room cards can be associated with objects in the outdoor environment. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the rooms cards can be 200 in numbers which have 10 types of rooms i.e., a Master Bedroom, Second Bedroom, Living Room, Family Room, Kitchen, Bathroom, Garage, Basement, Closet, Dining Room. Each room type card can have 20 member cards thus making the 200 count. Each room type card can have a distinct color and name of the room written on the front face of the card, as shown in  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2A  shows the room type card of “Master Bedroom”. On the other face of the room type card, shown in  FIG. 2B , can be the Guest Task, Killer Weapon Location, and Next Room notice. 
     Apart from the room card, the disclosed game can also have 30 Player Cards. An embodiment of the player card is shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . All the Player Cards can be of the same color.  FIG. 3A  shows a front face of the Player Cards having a predefined identifier. All the Player Cards can have the same front face.  FIG. 3A  shows the card having text “SUS”. On the opposite side of the card, shown in  FIG. 3B , are predefined instructions. The predefined instruction includes the word “Family Member” or “Killer” followed by the starting room location. The Family Member” can also be replaced by “guest”. 
     Also, the above exemplary embodiment of the game can include 20 guest cards, 10 killer cards, and a Deck of 5 Emergency Gathering cards. An embodiment of the Emergency Gathering card is shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . Also, the method can include a timer wherein the countdown of the time is visible easily to a group at large.  FIG. 4  shows a map pad that can be an 8×10 pad of paper with an area for players to draw a map of the rooms and a square in the top right corner to put room cards with complete tasks onto. 
     In one case, disclosed is a method of playing the game using the above room cards, player cards, guest cards, Emergency gathering cards, and map pad. First, the room cards can be places in their associated room, i.e., the room card having written the “Master Bedroom” can be placed in the Master Bedroom. Similarly, the other cards can be placed in their respective rooms. When placed in the room at any suitable location, the front face of the card, as shown in  FIG. 2A , faces up and is visible. Once, all the Room Cards have been placed in their respective homes, then a Map of room locations can be drawn on the map pad (shown in  FIG. 4 ) and placed in one of the game rooms. The room can be any of the above 10 rooms and can also act as the Gathering room. A suitable number of the emergency cards can also be placed beside the map pad. 
     Thereafter, the number of tasks to be completed by the Family members to win can be determined and written on the Map. Last, the desired number of the player cards that can include both the “Family Member” card and “Killer” card can be placed face-down next to the Map. The player cards, shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , can be shuffled thoroughly before placing them next to the map pad. The correct number and type of Player Cards must be used during gameplay. If this step is not followed, there may be no way to know when all Killers have been eliminated while playing the game. The number of Player cards in the gameplay can be preferably equal the number of players involved in the game. For example, when the 10 players are playing the game, 10 player cards can be used, wherein 8 player cards of the 10 player cards are of type “Family Member” and the rest can be of “Killer” type. Alternatively, the nine-player cards can be “Family Member” type and one player card can have written “you are a Killer” as shown in  FIG. 3B . It is to be understood that  FIG. 3B  only shows one type of the player card i.e., the player card having the killer. The other type of player card can have “You are a Family Member” written on its rear side. A combination of players cards such as ten “Family Member” types and three “Killer” types may not be acceptable because there would be no way to know definitively when all Killers were rooted out. 
     The above-disclosed example of the cards and method of playing can be theme-based. Different themes may be selected for playing the game. A set of cards can be based on one or more themes i.e., the same deck of cards can be used for playing with one or more themes. For example, the themes can be a Mobster meeting, a criminal investigation, deadly dinner party. In the above example, the theme can be as described below: 
     Great Grandpa George is dead. Wellington, the butler, found him in bed the morning after his 97th birthday party. Because of his age, the official cause of death has not been questioned, yet everyone in the family had an interest in seeing their filthy rich relative buried. Mr. Banks, Grandpa George&#39;s executor, has called the Family together at the estate the night before the Will reading. Everyone in the Family must assist in preparing the estate for tomorrow&#39;s transfer of ownership but no one knows what Grandpa George&#39;s Will says. Someone in the Family killed Grandpa George but you do not know who. Family members must finish all their preparations without killing themselves. While the Killer plans to dispose of the entire family so that Great Grandpa Georges&#39;s entire fortune transfers to them in the morning. As the dead pile up the Killer must use cunning and subterfuge to survive. 
     The disclosed article and method for the gameplay can also provide certain rules for the gameplay. In the above-described example, the following rules may be followed:
         1. All Players must remain silent unless a Gathering is called, no talking or sign language allowed outside of Gatherings.   2. Players can call a Gathering, at any time, by claiming an Emergency Gathering card, each of which can only be used once per game. Gatherings can also be called by any player when they have spotted a dead Family Member without the use of an Emergency Gathering card.   3. When the type of Gathering is called all players say “gathering” until all guests arrive in the Gathering room.   4. When all guests arrive in the Gathering room the 45 second sand time starts and speaking is allowed only until the timer runs out unless a family member is dead. Killed guests may not speak, they can signal that they are dead but that is all. Dead Family members are removed from gameplay after their Gathering.   5. At the end of every Gathering all living Family Members vote who they think the Killer is by pointing. Guests can abstain by pointing to the ground. If a majority of living Family members vote for a Family Member, then that Family Member reveals if they were the Killer or not and leaves the game.   6. The Killer&#39;s weapons are imaginary, and all weapons can only be used to kill one guest. Family members should expect the Killer to use their finger as a weapon to kill via syringe, knife, gun, sword, etc.   7. Family members who are Killed must remain silent and act dead until discovered, never revealing anything about killing.   8. In circumstances where tasks cannot be completed, or weapons cannot be obtained due to room characteristics or any other reasons players will place the failed Room card at the bottom of the pile and take a new card.       

     Gameplay 
     The game begins with each player taking a Player card, without letting anyone see, and then proceeding to the room designated on their card. For example,  FIG. 3B  shows the player card which instructs to go to the “Basement” room. Upon reaching the instructed rooms, each Player can pick a Room card. The player can have a “family member” card or a “Killer” card. On the room card, instruction can be given for both the “family member” card or a “Killer” card. For example, the room card in  FIG. 2B  shows the instruction “Remove the pillows and cover from the bed and then put them back on to neatly” for the guest i.e., when the player card is “family member” and the instruction “Reach under the bed for 30 seconds to gain access to a weapon” for the player having the killer player card. Thus, a player can check their player card if it is a “family member” or a “Killer” and proceed by the instruction given on the room card i.e., complete a task if they are “Family Member” or discover a weapon if they are a “Killer”. Upon completion of either the task or the discovery, a player can proceed to the next room, also shown on the room card. For example, the player card shown in  FIG. 2B  instructs to go to the “Kitchen”. When tasks are completed, the Family Members can place the completed task player cards in the gathering room at any time that they wish, but only while they are alive. The player cards with the completed task can be placed on the map pad, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The map card having a place for placing the room cards with completed tasks. In the gameplay, the Guests win by completing the designated number of tasks or removing all killers through Gathering Votes. Killers can win by killing all but one Family member. Once only one Family Member remains the Killer(s) win(s). 
     In one aspect, the guest task examples can be chosen from Flip on and off the light switch in each room, do 25 calisthenics of your choosing, Follow another guest for 60 seconds, Follow another guest for 30 seconds, Lay down and close your eyes for 45 seconds, Dance while singing your favorite song for 30 seconds, Grab a drink and quench your thirst when the drink is done so is this task, Inspect the room for 60 seconds, Inspect all windows and doors in the room by tracing them with your index finger, Open and then close all windows in the room, Walk back and forth between the Master Bedroom and Kitchen two times, Empty the silverware drawer putting all utensils into a pile and then resort them back into the drawer, Sit down and take a break by looking at your phone for 2 minutes, Act like a dog and walk around on all fours until another guest pets you on the head, Clap the Happy birthday song, Jump out and scare another guest, Hide in a room until another guest enters and exits without noticing you, Get another guest to stick their tongue out at you, Take off a shoe for the remainder of the game, and Take off your socks for the remainder of the game. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the killer task examples can include Reach under the bed and search for a weapon for 30 seconds, find a weapon in a drawer, hold your index finger against the wall for 30 seconds to get access to a weapon, if someone sees you start immediately stop and start again when alone, take off a shoe for the remainder of the game, Take off your socks for the remainder of the game. 
     The gameplay is based on themes and includes a deck of cards that are based on the theme. The deck of cards includes room cards, player cards, emergency gathering cards, and a map pad. The game can be played in an indoor or outdoor environment, and the room cards are associated with the objects in the environment. In the gameplay, the room cards can be placed in/on the associated objects. A map of the associated objects can be drawn on the map pad. Each player can have a player card and move towards the object listed on the player card. The player can then pick the room card in/on the object and follow the instructions on the room card. 
     In one aspect, disclosed is gameplay illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Select a theme for the gameplay, at step  510 . Provide room cards, player cards, emergency gathering cards, and a map pad for the theme, at step  520 . Place the room cards in their respective rooms, at step  530 . Draw the map of rooms on the map pad, at step  540 . Determine the tasks to be completed, at step  550 . Place the desired number of players card next to the map pad, the desired number is proportional to the numbers of players in the gameplay, at step  560 . 
     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.