Patent ID: 7749060

Claim:
A game system for playing a game between a plurality of players, said system comprising: a plurality of matching tile groupings, each one of said matching tile groupings defined by a plurality of tiles having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite said top surface, and a machine-readable identifier configured to identify its corresponding tile, wherein each one of said matching tile groupings is distinguishable from one another based on a distinct human-readable identifier disposed and viewable only on said bottom surface; a board comprising a plurality of distinct positions for placing each one of said plurality of tiles with said bottom surface face-down; and a scoring brick having a memory and a processor, said scoring brick configured to: maintain a separate score for each one of said plurality of players, each player's score being initially set to a value equal to the score of every other player, determine a penalty matching tile grouping among said plurality of matching tile groupings, determine a bonus matching tile grouping among said plurality of matching tile groupings, determine which one of said plurality of players the current turn of play belongs to based on an input from said one of said plurality of players, read said machine-readable identifier on any one of said plurality of tiles, identify the corresponding matching tile grouping based on said reading of said machine-readable identifier, associate the identified corresponding matching tile grouping with said one of said plurality of players, maintain a count of how many identified matching tile groupings have been consecutively associated with said one of said plurality of players before interruption from a matching tile grouping being associated another of said plurality of players, and adjust the score of said one of said plurality of players, wherein the player's score is penalized if the identified corresponding tile belongs to said penalty matching tile grouping, the player's score is rewarded if the identified corresponding tile does not belong to said penalty matching tile grouping, the player's score is rewarded if the identified corresponding tile belongs to said bonus matching tile grouping, and the player's score is rewarded if said count of consecutively associated matching tile groupings for said player is equal to a predetermined number.