Board game for building words with single-letter and multiple-letter tiles on a plurality of multi-directional pathways

Abstract

The invention is a word-building board game played on a double-sided board whose grid on both sides comprises horizontal and vertical rows of circles overlaid with smaller circles. Using single-letter and multiple-letter tiles, words are built on a plurality of multi-directional pathways, a number of which are imbedded on one side of the board. Coloured overlays highlight words other than those built orthogonally. Instructional pieces direct players in certain initiatives, including the execution of the ‘Ploy Move’ which allows a word to be built away from the main body of words. Letters on multiple-letter tiles are expressed obliquely in a downward direction. The multi-dimensional pathways and ‘Ploy Pieces’ have the effect of increasing the scope and enhancing the concept of the crossword format that derives from building.words orthogonally.

Description

[0001]The Applicant for US Non Provisional patent claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 963,502, Filing Date Aug. 6, 2007, entitled:—An improved word building game that provides a board with a grid and a plurality of both single-letter tiles and multiple-letter tiles carrying word fragments for building words orthogonally and on ‘special’ pathways which are differentiated by means of clear, coloured overlays.”CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0002]Not applicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0003]Not applicableREFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX[0004]Not applicableSEQUENCE LISTING[0005]Not applicable[0006]The invention is in the field of board games and, in particular, it relates to an improved word-building game which provides a variety of pathways for word-building with single-letter tiles and multiple-letter tiles, said variety of pathways being afforded by, in com...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025]3. Another objective is to provide a word building game wherein each word fragment on a multiple-letter tile remains an entity, retaining its integrity in terms of spelling and / or meaning and therefore contributing to the enhanced educational value of the word building game.

[0027]5. Related to (4.) another objective is to provide strategic tools by means of which players can increase their scores.

[0029]7. Another objective is to provide a board which is divided into sectors to facilitate the orderly dismantling of some words should the board become cluttered and to provide a means by which players can easily play individual or team games.

Problems solved by technology

The main difficulty to date has been the application of word fragments to orthogonal word-building.

However, when this occurs, the fragment loses its integrity in play, as further word building is onto or off its single letters, not onto or off the entity that is the fragment.

The problem caused by the incorporation of diagonals in word-building games is that the frequently resulting adjacent letter tiles render reading of the board difficult, especially because the said adjacent tiles frequently do not form words with the letters of the diagonal words.

Additionally, other than the provision of blank tiles for blocking an opponent, there have been provided few strategic tools which facilitate word building for players blocked by one or more tiles and therefore prevented from reaching high-scoring spaces and areas of the board.

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