Abstract:
A socially interactive card game with a board game variant providing for competitive play-action between a plurality of players by which to provide creative submissions. The method of playing including providing a particular setting for a conversation between a male and a female, each of the players submitting a creative written statement concerning the conversation between the selected male and female nouns in the particular setting, and the guessing player guessing which player submitted each of the creative written statements. Points may be awarded to the players based upon whether or not the guessing player determined each player submission and the submission the guessing player chooses to be the best. The steps may be repeated until a predetermined number of points accumulated, rounds completed, or in a board game variant the playing piece being advanced from the start space to the finish space.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/564,133 filed Nov. 28, 2011, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a social interactive card-game that invites stimulating and creative answers employed from drawing and reciting the characters or objects from at least two cards, thus eliciting joyful and humorous social/group interaction. In some embodiments, the present invention is used in conjunction with a playing game board. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Numerous board games have been developed over many years that have become a popular form of entertainment, including relatively simple forms of board games such as checkers, dominoes, backgammon, parches and the like that comprise game pieces and a set of rules for determining game piece movement on or across a game board. Other games have been developed that introduce more complex game concepts wherein additional game components such as player tokens, dice, game cards and the like are employed to enhance game play. Examples of such games include Monopoly™, Risk™, Life™ and the like. However, many board games are based upon random selection and chance, which have the potential to lose player interest. While board games are a source of entertainment and social interaction, there still remains a need for other social interactive games that engage the players and elicit social interaction among members of a group. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In some embodiments of the present invention, a socially interactive card-game with a board game variant is provided, the socially interactive game comprising a game board, one or more decks of cards, a plurality of player pawns, a plurality of answer pads, one or more chance determining device such as a die, and a set of rules for playing the socially interactive game. In some aspects, the one or more deck of cards have a certain described situation on the front side of the card (i.e., A guy/gal at a costume party dressed up as . . . ) and then the back side of the respective card having one or more characteristics or descriptions (i.e., a fictional character, a professional, an object, an animal, a celebrity, an athlete, a politician, a historical person and/or the player&#39;s choice). In some aspects, one player reads the certain described situation on the front side of the card and then the characteristic or description from the back side of the card (or picks from one or more available choices). The other players then write down a clever or catchy phrase that may be heard during a conversation between the two or more characteristics or descriptions as it pertains to the certain described situation. In some aspects, points may be awarded to the respective players based upon the reader of the written phrases guessing which player wrote the respective phrase, the reader not correctly identifying the author of the written phrase, and/or the favorite written phrase submission. The points awarded may then be illustrated by the respective player/team(s) pawn(s) being moved on the game board. In some other alternative aspects, the points awarded are simply tallied until a player or team of players reaches a predetermined number of points. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the game components of a socially interactive game comprises a game board, two decks of cards, a plurality of player tokens or pawns that is contemplated to include two to ten players, more preferably four to eight, answer pads for each player or pair of players, one or more chance determining device such as a die, and a set of rules for playing the socially interactive game. In some aspects, one player reads the certain described situation on the front side of the card and then the characteristic or description from the back side of the card (or picks from one or more available choices). The other players then write down a clever or catchy phrase that may be heard during a conversation between the two or more characteristics or descriptions as it pertains to the certain described situation. In some aspects, points may be awarded to the respective players based upon the reader of the written phrases guessing which player wrote the respective phrase, the reader not correctly identifying the author of the written phrase, and/or the favorite written phrase submission. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the socially interactive game comprises a game board and two decks of cards that when drawn and put into play invites stimulating and creative answers from multiple players, thus eliciting joyful and humorous social/group interaction. In some aspects, the two decks of cards for the basic game iteration comprise one deck labeled or categorized and herein known as ‘male’ and the other labeled or categorized and herein known as ‘female’, with each deck of cards bearing a composite list on the backside of each card, the list depicting two or more different characteristics or descriptions pertaining to that label or category. For example, one of the characteristics or descriptions includes ‘costumes’ a person may wear to a costume party. The lists on the cards, however, may include anything imaginable, such as inanimate objects, animals, real people, movie and television roles/characters, comic and cartoon characters, professions, famous people, etc. In some aspects, a player rolls a die to determine the cards to be put into play, and the roller then announces the characteristics or descriptions on the backside of each card, wherein all players write and present a line or phrase based upon the characteristic or description (i.e., based upon their costume that the person would wear to a costume party). In some aspects, the line presented based upon the characteristic or description may be used in a flirtatious conversation between the two characters. In some aspects, the answers are read, points are awarded, and player pawns are moved appropriately with the intent of being the first to the finish square on the board game. In some aspects, rounds may be repeated as necessary until the finish square is reached by one or more players and are determined the winner(s). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a view of an embodiment of a socially interactive card-game with a board game variant according to the present invention; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a direct face-up view of the top side and bottom side of some overlapping playing cards of an embodiment of a socially interactive card-game, whereupon the top side of each playing card is depicted the gender (male or female) to which the characteristics or descriptions are directed and the bottom side of each playing card is depicted the characteristics or descriptions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A. The Basic Game-Play Embodiment 
       [0009]    Referring now generally to  FIG. 1 , in some aspects of the present invention, a socially interactive card-game with a board game variant  10  is provided, which includes one or more decks of cards  20  and a set of rules for playing the socially interactive game (not illustrated), and in some aspects a game board  30  with a plurality of playing spaces  32  having a starting position  32 A and a finishing position  32 A′ and optional designated places for the one or more decks of cards  34 , a plurality of player pawns  40 , a plurality of answer sheets or pads  50  for each answering player/team, and one or more chance determining device such as a die  60 . 
         [0010]    Before describing in detail a method of playing the socially interactive game of the present invention, a description regarding the one or more decks of cards  20  will first be provided. In some aspects, a first deck  20 A is labeled or categorized as “the male” deck as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , as the characteristics or descriptions are directed to the male gender. In some aspects, the first deck may be labeled with a masculine gender description such as “guy,” “men,” “boys,” etc. In some aspects, a second deck  20 B is labeled or categorized as “the female” deck as also illustrated in  FIG. 2 , as the characteristics or descriptions are directed to the female gender. In some aspects, the second deck may be labeled with feminine gender description such as “gal,” “women,” “girls,” etc. In some aspects, the front side of each playing card provides a certain described situation (i.e. for the male deck of cards  20 A “a guy at a costume party dressed up as . . . ” and for the female deck of cards  20 B “a gal at a costume party dressed up as . . . ”) and the reverse side or back side of the respective card contains the characteristic or description for the respective gender. The back side of the card may contain one or more characteristics or descriptions (i.e., for the male deck of cards  20 A “a golf club,” “a plumber,” and “a tree” and for the female deck of cards  20 B “a librarian,” “a cowgirl,” and “a pool table.”). Each of the other respective playing cards will have other characteristics or descriptions, for example a fictional character, a professional, an object, an animal, a celebrity, an athlete, a politician, a historical person and/or the player/team&#39;s choice. It is also contemplated that the front side of the playing cards  20  may provide other particular locations and situations (i.e., a nightclub, a funeral, a sporting event, a first date, etc.). 
         [0011]    In some aspects of the present invention, replacement decks of cards (male or female) are contemplated that can replace the first and second decks of cards, which may occur after the first and second decks of cards are exhausted through repeated play. 
         [0012]    In some aspect of the present invention, one team (i.e., a single player or two or more players on a team) is the “roller” who during game play picks by his/her/their choice one card from the first deck and one card from the second deck to put into play (i.e., a male at a costume party dressed as (front side of the respective card from the first deck) a pirate (provided on the back side of the respective card from the first deck, whether as the only characteristic or description provided or one picked from a list), and a female at a costume party dressed as (front side of the respective card from the second deck) a witch (provided on the back side of the respective card from the first deck, whether as the only characteristic or description provided or one picked from a list)). The roller&#39;s choices are announced to all teams (i.e. a single player or two or more players on a team), and the rest of the players then write the read characteristics or descriptions (i.e., pirate and witch) down in the appropriate space on an answer sheet or pad  50 . 
         [0013]    In some aspects, variations to the general game are provided that involve drawing multiple cards from the same gender labeled deck (i.e., drawing two cards from the first deck “the male” cards). In some aspects, all players, with the exception of the roller, then write down a creative, clever and/or catchy phrase (i.e., flirtatious conversation) that may be used or overheard in the particular recited situation (i.e., costume party) between the two recited characteristics or descriptions provided by the reader (i.e., the two people dressed up in said costumes), and then each player/team provides a means for identification (i.e., initials or name) on their submission in the space provided on the answer sheet or pad  50 . Submissions are collected by the reader who, when all submissions are collected, randomly reads them aloud for all to hear. The roller then makes guesses out loud (roller not allowed to view the submissions) in an attempt to match the submitted phrase with the correct person whom submitted the phrase. With each guess the reader marks in the appropriate area on submitted answer pads whether the roller guessed correctly or not. After guesses are made and before the author for each is revealed the roller picks their favorite submission. Points are then awarded; one point to the roller for each correct guess, one point to every player who the roller did not guess correctly, and two points to the player who authored the roller&#39;s favorite submission. The number of awarded points to each team is kept track until a team reaches a designated number of points. In some aspects, the number of awarded points is kept track until a designated number of plays or rounds of plays. 
         [0014]    In some alternative aspects of a board-game variant, players/teams move their respective pawn  40  the appropriate spaces  32  on the game board  30  corresponding to the number of points awarded, one space per point awarded. Rounds are repeated until one or more players moves from the start space  32 A the number of spaces  32  on the game board  30  until the finish square  32 A′ is reached, who then is deemed the winner(s). 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, such as shown in  FIGS. 1 , the game starts by laying out the game-board  30  and each player/team choosing a colored pawn/marking piece  40  for use in marking movement along the spaces  32  of the game board  30  for the duration of the game, and an answer sheet or pad  50  in which to write answers for submittal to the reader for each round. While the number of players is not fixed, 4 to 8 teams (a team being a single player or two or more players per team), is most desirable. Fun and successful game play with multiple teams of up to 4 players on a team (creating large group play) are contemplated by the present invention. A determination is made to establish which player will become the first roller and first reader, which may be designated as the player to the immediate right of the roller. Once established, the roller determines which cards to be drawn through a roll of the die  60  (or other chance determining device) and draws the appropriate cards as compelled them by the rules of the game. The roller then picks, of their choice, one characteristic or description on the back of the card/list  20  and reads them aloud to all players as it relates to the particular situation (i.e., costume party, dressed up as . . . ). 
         [0016]    In an alternative aspect, the playing card or list  20  may contain six listed characteristics or descriptions and the role of the die  60  determines which of the characteristics or descriptions are to be picked (i.e., a role of a 4 determines the fourth listed characteristic or description to be picked). In another alternative aspect, the playing card or list  20  contains five listed characteristics or descriptions and the role of the die  60  determines which of the characteristics or descriptions to be picked, with a role of “6” being a free choice or the roller creating their own characteristic or description. 
         [0017]    Once the roller reads the characteristic or description aloud, all players, with the exception of the roller, then write down a creative, clever and/or catchy phrase (i.e., flirtatious conversation) that may be used or overheard in the particular recited situation (i.e., costume party) between the two recited characteristics or descriptions provided by the reader (i.e., the two people dressed up in said costumes), and then each player/team puts a means for identification (i.e., initials or name) on their submission in the space provided on the answer sheet or pad  50 . Submissions are collected by the reader who, when all submissions are collected, randomly reads them aloud for all to hear. The roller then makes guesses out loud (roller not allowed to view the submissions) in an attempt to match submitted answers with the correct author. With each guess the reader marks in the appropriate area on submitted answer sheet  50  whether the roller guessed correctly or not. After guesses are made and before the author for each is revealed the roller picks their favorite submission. Points are then awarded; one point to the roller for each correct guess, one point to every player who the roller did not guess correctly, and two points to the player who authored the roller&#39;s favorite submission. Players then move their pawn  40  the appropriate space(s)  32  on the game board  32 , one space per point awarded. Rounds are repeated until one or more players reach the finish square, who are then deemed the winner(s). 
       B. Variations to the Basic Game-Play Embodiment 
       [0018]    As the socially interactive game of the present invention may be played as described above, there are variations that warrant distinguishing for altered versions of the game that may be successfully played. 
         [0019]    Scoring: A compact version for circumstances where space is limited (preventing use of a game board), or for players that choose not to have organized seating (creating a more relaxed atmosphere), successful scoring may be kept in the following ways: 
         [0020]    Score Sheet: Players may be listed on a provided score sheet and hash marks are kept for points for each player. Turns are then determined by following the list of players in order, allowing for the moving about by players during game play while still keeping order and organization. Game can be played until a player(s) either reaches a predetermined point level or; a predetermined number of cards read or rounds are played, with the winner being the player(s) with the highest point total. 
         [0021]    Chip Markers: Players may receive a chip or marker for each point awarded with the winner being the player(s) who either reaches a predetermined marker total or, a predetermined number of cards read or rounds being played, with the winner being the player(s) with the highest marker count. 
         [0022]    Character Determination: In some embodiments, the first and/or second deck of cards may be replaced by printed lists (i.e., list of costume options). It is contemplated that a comprehensive list may be developed that includes numerous characteristics or descriptions that (i.e., objects, people, professions, animals, television/movie roles or characters, cartoon and comic characters and so on and so forth) that the roller refers to and simply chooses from to determine the two (or sometimes more) characteristics or descriptions to announce for game play. 
         [0023]    Roller Authors a Submission: In some embodiments, the authoring of phrases (i.e., flirtatious) is one of the most alluring aspects of the game. In some aspects, the roller also offers a submission. When guessing, the roller may guess their own submission, and depending on a determination before the game is played, may or may not receive points for guessing their own submission. In some aspects, the favorite point(s) are awarded through a poll of all players (except the reader, who has viewed and knows the author of all the submissions). Players may vote for their own submission but do not get credit for that vote. 
         [0024]    Designated Reader: In some aspects, the enjoyment of the socially interactive game of the present invention may be enhanced when one player who has a knack for reading and delivering the submissions with precise timing and emphasis reads all of the submissions (except for when they become roller). In some aspects, the enjoyment of the socially interactive game of the present invention may be enhanced when one player who is perceived to be shy reads and delivers all the submissions. If either of these variations are used, scoring in the above game description and variations must be altered as to not provide a disadvantage to the said reader, such as being able to vote and score on their own submission when voting for ‘favorite’ points, etc. 
       C. Other Game-Play Variations 
       [0025]    Another objective of the present invention is to set forth a series of other variations or embodiments that may be played with the exact same game play (players write submissions and scorer guesses) and rules (scoring) as previously described, with the difference being the drawn item (cards). The following described game-play variations are provided for example purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. While all of the following described game-play variations provide socially interactive game play that is both fun and amusing, they have been given generic names for example purposes only. 
         [0026]    Flirt!: A first “male gender” deck of cards  20 A and a second “female gender” deck of cards  20 B are provided. The certain described situation on the front side of each of the cards in the first and second deck pertains to the respective gender dressed up at a costume party (i.e., A guy/gal at a costume party dressed up as . . . ) and then the back side of the respective card having one or more characters (i.e., categories of characters may include a fictional character, a professional, an object, an animal, a celebrity, an athlete, a politician, a historical person and/or the player&#39;s choice). The players/teams then write down a clever or catchy flirtatious phrase that may be heard between the two or more characters (i.e., a pirate (male card) and a witch (female card)). The flirtatious phrase or line heard between the two or more characteristics or descriptions may be a pick-up line, put-down, or other general statement that may be heard in a flirtatious conversation between the chosen characters. Scoring and other game-play may be followed as previously described. 
         [0027]    Captions!: An image or photo is substituted for the drawn card decks for the previous described embodiments. The roller then chooses an image or picture and presents it to the other players, who then write a clever caption as their submission to the reader. Again, play and scoring may be the same as the previously presented embodiments, including the Flirt! game-play embodiment. Images may be a hard copy photo, or photo/image from a multi-media source such as an internet site, cellular phone application, or a data/information storage and retrieval device (Flash Drive or Memory Stick). 
         [0028]    FavoRank!: Two decks of cards replace the decks from the previous described embodiments. One deck of cards is labeled with ‘Top 5’ on one side of each card and a category of favorites (ex. top 5 favorite foods) on the reverse side. The other deck of drawn cards is labeled ‘Rank&#39;em’ on one side of each card and a categorical list (i.e., Music Groups: Led Zeppelin, Boston, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, ABBA) on the reverse side of each card. The roll of a die (or other chance determining device) decides which deck the roller chooses from. If drawn from the ‘Top 5’ deck, the roller presents the category to the other players who then write their top five favorites for that category and submit to the roller to be read. If drawn from the ‘Rank&#39;em’ deck, the players list (rank in order of preference, 1 being the highest preference) the subjects listed on the card. The players then submit to the reader their preferred lists, to which the roller tries to guess who authored each list. Scoring and other game-play may be followed as previously described. 
         [0029]    Sin Taxing!: The two decks from the previously described embodiments are replaced with one deck labeled on one side of each card with the games name and a list of peculiar words on the reverse side. The roller draws a card, and chooses from the list a word they then present to the other players. The other players then must use that word in a sentence, write that sentence as their submission and give to the reader to be read aloud. The chooser then guesses who authored each submission. The hilarity and enjoyment comes from the chosen words that may be in various languages, and have a peculiar syntax associated with them. Scoring and other game-play may be followed as previously described. 
         [0030]    Best and Worst of Life or The Worst Board Game: The two decks used in the previously described embodiments are replaced with one deck labeled ‘The Best’ on one side of each card and a situation or category (i.e., place to vacation, movie, etc.) on the reverse side of the card; 
         [0031]    and one deck labeled ‘The Worst’ on one side of each card and a situation or category (i.e., place to vacation, movie, etc.) on the reverse side of the card. The roll of a die (or other chance determining device) decides which deck the roller chooses from. The roller draws a card and presents the subject to the other players who then write a submission. For example, should the situation or category be “the best place to vacation?” a player may write “Alaska,” or if the situation or category is “the worst movie?” a player may write “Rocky IV.” The written submissions are given to the reader to be read aloud. Again, the roller then guesses at which player authored each submission. Scoring and other game-play may be followed as previously described. 
         [0032]    Yo (Blankety Blank)! or Ad (bleeping)Libs: A single deck of drawn cards replaces the two decks used in the previously described embodiments. The deck labeled ‘Yo!’ or ‘Bleep!’ on one side of each card and a character and related adjective in a certain described situation on the reverse side of the card (i.e., your sister is such a bad driver that . . . ). The roller draws a card and presents the subject to the other players who simply finish the sentence (i.e., situation may be “your sister is such a bad driver that” with the answer being “her car is encased in bubblewrap”). The written submissions are provided to the reader to be read aloud. The guesser again tries to choose which player authored each submission. Scoring and other game-play may be followed as previously described. A variation has the players filling in the blanks (instead of “your sister”, they may fill in a blank that may be labeled ((person in room) is such a bad (adjective) that . . . ) and then they finish the sentence to complete their submission. 
         [0033]    Acronyms or Acromotto: A single deck of drawn cards replaces the two decks used in the previously described embodiments. The deck labeled ‘Acronym’ on one side of each card and an acronym on the reverse side of the card (i.e., FBI). The roller draws a card and presents the acronym to the other players to provide a submission of what the acronym might also stand for. In some aspects, the acronym may be chosen from a list. After all of the player&#39;s submissions, the submissions are read aloud by the reader. The chooser then guesses who authored each submission. The hilarity and enjoyment comes from the submitted answers. Scoring and other game-play may be followed as previously described, and an additional point may be awarded for providing a motto assigned to give submission.