US20100140871A1
2010-06-10
12/314,362
2008-12-09
Disclosed is a game adapted to be played by means of hard copy cards, or their electronic equivalent on computers or other electronic devices and designed to enhance communication between players, lovers, dating couples or people in intimate relationships in a manner that is open, fun, uninhibited, and for dating couples, romantic.
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A63F1/04 » CPC main
Card games Card games combined with other games
A63F9/18 » CPC further
Games not otherwise provided for Question-and-answer games
A63F1/00 IPC
Card games
The present invention is directed to a game adapted to be played by means of cards, or their electronic equivalent on computers or other electronic devices, and designed to enhance communication between players, lovers, dating couples, people in intimate relationships such as members of a family, or for use in an environment where frank and open communication is required such as a therapy session or corporate diversity training, in a manner that is open, fun, uninhibited, and in the case of lovers, romantic.
Love is the bedrock of happiness and for many people, at the center of their major life concerns. But meeting one's soul mate can be a real challenge despite the use of Internet, singles' clubs and forums, and other social networking aids. In most cases, meeting someone is merely the beginning; the relationship has to be cultivated, nurtured, and developed till it ripens into the enduring and fulfilling encounter that lovers yearn for. However, the initial ecstasy of encountering an attractive mate is often clothed with superficial passion, and all too often vanishes before the couples have truly discovered one another. Consequently, many actively searching couples have heartaches and thwarted dreams to show for their efforts.
It is common knowledge that inability to communicate effectively in an open and uninhibited manner is the commonest cause of failed relationships. And yet there are not enough aids aimed at helping couples to communicate short of the bland and often tedious psychotherapy scenes if it ever gets to that.
The object of this invention is to bridge that communication gap between lovers, established or nascent, dating couples or people pursing intimate relationships or family members needing to communicate in a manner that is probing, interactive, and yet fun and for lovers, very romantic. The invention is also adaptable to any situation such as corporate diversity training and the like where frank and open heart communication is to be encouraged.
The present invention is directed to a game adapted to be played by means of cards, computers or electronic devices, and designed to enhance communication between the players, such as couples pursuing a close or intimate relationship. As used in this invention, couples refer to any two persons of whatever gender seeking to establish a romantic or intimate relationship or to enhance their relationship. However, this game may be played by any number of people in a close or intimate relationship using audience-appropriate versions of the game. As used in this specification, the term cards may refer to conventional hardcopy cards or electronic versions thereof.
The game of the present invention comprise a plurality of regular cards and a set of non-regular cards or wild cards or special cards. The terms non-regular cards or wild cards or special cards are used interchangeably, are distinct in content and optionally, in appearance from the regular cards, and are designed to introduce elements of surprise, provide romantic interludes and comfort as appropriate for the audience, signify end of game, confer an advantage accruing to the presenter or else empower the holder to ask an unscripted question, or extract a pledge, or promise or indulgence from the non-holding partner.
In one embodiment, the set of wild cards comprise at least one game-ending wild card which may bring the game to an automatic end. In another embodiment, the game-ending wild card may be defeated by an opponent having a privilege non-regular card conferring the power to defeat a game-ending card. In a preferred embodiment, a game-ending card is coupled to an indulgence accruing to the presenter of the game ending card. An indulgence may include a kiss on the cheek, a massage, etc.
In another embodiment, the set of wild cards comprise at least one game-ending wild card and at least one non-game ending wild card.
In one embodiment, the non-game ending wild card comprises a mandate scripted thereon which directs the holder to act in a certain manner. The mandate may or may not be favorable to the presenter. The mandate may also be defeated by an opposing player having a privilege card empowering the holder to defeat a mandate. One such mandate may be to direct the holder to decline answering any number of questions of his or her choosing.
In another embodiment, the non-game ending wild card comprises a game privilege scripted thereon which directs the exercise any privilege consistent with the purpose of providing fun, romance and opportunity for couples to interact. One such privilege may be to confer upon the holder the power to temporarily suspend the game while he or she gets a message from the other partner.
In another embodiment, the none-game ending wild card empowers the holder to attempt to obtain a declinable indulgence from the non-holding party. Such declinable indulgence may include a request for a peck on the cheek; a kiss; a week-end for two; a promise to see a certain movie; or else any which way the none-game ending wild card holder prays to be indulged.
In another embodiment, the game ending wild card empowers the holder to extract a non-declinable indulgence from the non-holder. Such non-declinable indulgence may include a request for a peck on the cheek; a kiss; a week-end for two; a promise to see a certain movie; or else any which way the game ending wild card holder wishes to be romantically indulged.
In one embodiment, the plurality of regular cards is one hundred and the set of game ending wild card is only one card.
In another embodiment, the plurality of regular cards is one hundred and the set of game ending wild card is only one card and the set of none-game ending wild card comprise at least two cards.
Each of the regular cards consist of two sides—a front or cover side and a back side comprising carefully scripted questions. Each of the non-regular cards also consists of two sides—a front or cover side and a back side comprising a mandate or an invitation to request an indulgence or in the case of the game-ending wild card, to end the game and call for the non-declinable indulgence.
In one embodiment, the back side of the regular cards comprises both carefully scripted questions and multiple choice answers inviting the responding party to choose the answer that most closely represents their thinking or feeling on the predicate question. In other embodiments, the back side may comprise questions only or it may comprise a set of answers inviting an appropriate question.
In one embodiment, the front sides of the regular and non-regular cards in a game pack are the same.
In another embodiment, the front sides of the regular and non-regular cards in a game pack are different.
In one typical format, the cards are shuffled, stacked back to back with the back side facing down and the players take turns to select a pre-agreed number of cards or have a pre-agreed number dealt to each of the players. To maintain the element of surprise and spontaneity, the players are forbidden to look at the back cover of their cards—be they regular or non-regular cards. The couples then take turns presenting their cards to their playing partner who reads the question scripted thereon and invites the presenting party to respond. Where the card happens to be a non-regular card, the mandate, game privilege or else, whatever game advantage or disadvantage inscribed therein is announced to the presenting party. When a party presents a game-ending wild card, the presenting party may call the game to an end and in turn extract an indulgence which the non-presenting party may not decline. When a party presents a non-game ending wild card, the presenting party may request an indulgence from the non-presenting party or else follow the mandates scripted on the non-game ending wild card.
In yet another embodiment, the interactive game of the instant invention may be packed into different versions. One version of the games may be for beginning couples or those actively dating. Another version may be for established or mature couples. And yet another version may be for intermediate couples or those needing to add spunk or spice to their relationship. One version may be for a family and yet another version may be for corporate diversity training. In all these versions, the regular cards will have questions more appropriately designed to address the communication needs of those players. In all these versions, the non-regular cards will also have mandates, privileges or indulgences more suited to the character of the relationship—be that beginning, intermediate and established, or mature relationships.
The electronic version of this game is played in an electronic device or computer in a manner that simulates the hard copy version of the game. The game may be packaged in a computer readable format such as an optical disk or it may be installed in a client-server environment such as the internet. The game may also be embedded in a dedicated form factor or its own separate electronic device.
In the electronic version, the cards may be electronically shuffled and dealt and the players take turns clicking through the stack and discussing and responding to the questions accordingly. The electronic version may be graphically enhanced, both as to the cards and to the background in order to give both visual flavor and romantic appeal to the game. Graphic enhancements also include the possibility of using graphical animation, romantic videos and voice enhancements. The electronic version may also be keyed to music wherein each game selection is accompanied by a different music or each card being discussed is scored to a separate music. Other enhancements are also envisaged in the electronic version of this invention. For instance the stack of electronic regular and non-regular cards may be interspersed with voice animated jokes, short stories, trivia, quotations, “did you knows” and sorts consistent with the theme of enhancing communication in a way that is both fun and romantic.
In one embodiment, the players upon initializing the electronic version are given the option to select an appropriate version be it beginners, intermediate or mature couples; to select the number of cards and wild card elements; to select graphic animation and desired genre of music—rock, classic, religious etc; to select whether to intersperse the game with animated jokes, short stories or trivia.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are included solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. Also, the drawings are not drawn to scale, and are merely conceptual in disclosing the preferred embodiments of the invention.
In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify similar elements:
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the front cover of a regular card according to one embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the back cover of a regular card according to one embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the back cover of a regular card according to one embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the back cover of a regular card according to one embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the back cover of a regular card according to one embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the back cover of a regular card according to one embodiment of this invention.
Referring now to the drawings of the present disclosure in which like numbers represent the same structure in the various views, FIG. 1 illustrates the front side of a regular card 10. In a preferred embodiment, the front side comprises a graphics element preferably having a romantic appeal in the version of the game designed for lovers or else an audience-appropriate appeal for other versions. The front side of a non-regular card may or may not have the same graphics element as the front side of a regular card. In a preferred embodiment, the front side of a non-regular card comprises a different graphics element from the front side of a non-regular card.
FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate the back side of a regular card 10. In a preferred embodiment, the back side comprises a graphics element 14 and a script element 12. The script element 12 comprises a question or a set of questions reasonably calculated to elicit responses from the presenting party. In another embodiment, the script element 12 comprises a question and multiple choice answers wherein the presenting party is invited by the reading party to choose the answer the most closely represents the thought or feeling of the presenting party.
In a preferred embodiment, the back side of a non-regular card comprises a graphics element and a script element. The script element in this case may be a mandate, a privilege, a declinable or a non-declinable indulgence, or else a game advantage accruing to the presenting party. A typical game pack comprises at least one non-regular game ending card wherein the script element calls the game to an end and invites the game ending card presenting party to extract an indulgence which the reading party cannot decline. The indulgence may be left to the discretion of the presenting party or it may be stated. Optionally, the indulgence may be stated in a multiple choice format inviting the reading party to choose one indulgence to confer to the presenting party.
In a preferred game format, the players take turns playing the role of presenting or reading party wherein the presenting party presents a card from his or her own stack of randomly dealt cards, and without seeing or reading the question on the back side, hands it over or presents it to the reading party who reads the question and invites the presenting party to respond.
Thus, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to a card game for enhancing communication between at least one presenting player and at least one reading player in a close or intimate relationship, said game comprising a plurality of regular cards and a set of non-regular cards, said regular cards comprising a front side and a back side, said back side having scripted thereon for enunciation by the reading player, questions or answers reasonably calculated to elicit revealing verbal response from the presenting player, and wherein the non-regular cards comprising a front side and a back side, also have scripted on their back side, a game privilege, or a game mandate, or an indulgence or an advantage accruing to the presenting player.
In one embodiment, the non-regular cards comprise at least one sudden death game-ending card, the presentation of which brings a game session to an automatic end. Optionally, the sudden death game ending card is coupled with a non-declinable indulgence accruing to the presenter.
In another embodiment, the non-regular cards comprise at least one defeasible game-ending card, the presentation of which invites the opposing player holding a non-regular card conferring the privilege to defeat a game-ending card to exercise that privilege.
In another embodiment, the non-regular cards comprise at least one privilege card, the presentation of which confers a game privilege accruing to the presenting player to be exercised at the presenting player's discretion. Also, non-regular cards may comprise at least one mandate card, the presentation of which confers a written mandate to the presenting player which may or may not be detrimental to the presenting party. Further, the non-regular cards comprise at least one indulgence card, the presentation of which invites a stated or unstated indulgence from the reading player to the presenting player.
In a preferred embodiment, the indulgence card served by the presenting player has scripted thereon, a privilege to request an indulgence that may be declined by the reading player holding a privilege card that confers the power to decline performing an indulgence. In another embodiment, the indulgence card served by the presenting party has scripted thereon, a privilege to request an indulgence that may not be declined by the reading player.
In a preferred embodiment, the back sides of the regular and non-regular cards also comprise a graphics element. In one embodiment, the front sides of the regular and non-regular cards look the same. In a preferred embodiment, the front side of the regular cards looks different from the front side of the non-regular cards. The front side of the non-regular cards may look different depending on whether it is a privilege, a mandate, an indulgence card or otherwise confers a game advantage to the presenting player.
Additionally, the card game may further comprising at least one set of non-regular cards selected from the group consisting of “Did You Know,” “Quotation,” “Short story,” and “Joke” cards designed to inject insight, humor, entertain, further liven or accentuate the game experience.
Different versions of the card game are envisaged. The game may be packaged into audience-appropriate versions wherein the scripts on the regular and non-regular cards are closely tailored to meet the communication needs of the target audience. Also, the script on the back side of the regular cards comprise at least one of the following formats: only questions inviting an open-ended response; questions and multiple choice answers; only answers inviting a question as response.
In addition to a table version of the game, an electronic version of the game constitutes another embodiment. The game may be played in any electronic or computer device comprising a processor for executing a set of programmable instructions capable of being executed by a processor for playing a card game, said card game including the steps of randomly selecting and dealing a pre-selected number of regular and non-regular cards, alternately disclosing the back side of the cards upon player initiated electronic event such as a mouse click or key-board event, electronic enunciation of the script of the back side inviting appropriate response from the non-presenting.
Thus, one object of the present invention is to provide an electronic card game for enhancing communication between players in a close or intimate relationships, said game comprising a plurality of regular electronic cards, and a set of non-regular electronic cards, said regular electronic cards comprising a front side and a back side, said back side revealable by an electronic event performed by a presenting player and said back side scripted thereon, questions or answers reasonably calculated to elicit revealing verbal response from the presenting player, and wherein the non-regular electronic cards comprising a front side and a back side, also have scripted on their back sides, a game privilege, or a game mandate, or an indulgence or an advantage accruing to the presenting player.
In one embodiment of the electronic card game, the non-regular electronic cards comprise at least one sudden death game-ending card, the presentation of which brings a game session to an automatic end. In another embodiment, the non-regular electronic cards comprise at least one defeasible game-ending card, the presentation of which invites the opposing player holding a non-regular electronic card conferring the privilege to defeat a game-ending electronic card to exercise that privilege. The non-regular electronic cards may also comprise at least one privilege card, the presentation of which confers a game privilege to the presenting player to be exercised at the presenting player's discretion. The non-regular electronic cards may also comprise at least one mandate card, the presentation of which confers a written mandate to the presenting player which may or may not be detrimental to the presenting party. The non-regular cards may also comprise at least one indulgence card, the presentation of which invites a stated or unstated indulgence accruing to the presenting player.
In one embodiment of the electronic card game, the indulgence card served by the presenting player has thereon, a privilege to request an indulgence that may be declined by the reading player holding a privilege card that confers the power to decline performing an indulgence. In another embodiment, the electronic indulgence card served by the presenting party has scripted thereon, a privilege to request an indulgence that may not be declined by the reading player.
The back side of the regular and non-regular cards may also comprise an animated or nonanimated graphics element. In another embodiment, the electronic card game may further comprises a set of non-regular cards selected from the group consisting of “Did You Know,” “Quotation,” “Short story,” and “Joke” cards designed to inject insight, humor, entertain, further liven or accentuate the game experience.
The electronic card game may be packaged into user-electable, audience-appropriate versions wherein the scripts on the regular and non-regular cards are closely tailored to meet the communication needs of the target audience.
Also, scripts on the back side of the regular cards comprise at least one of the following formats: only questions; questions and multiple choice answers; only answers inviting a question as response.
In a preferred embodiment, a game session is accompanied by player electable music score. Also in a preferred embodiment of the electronic version, the scripts on the back side of the regular or non-regular cards are enunciated by the electronic device.
The electronic card game of claim may be packaged in a computer readable device such as an optical disk or it may be executed in a client-server architecture such as the World Wide Web. The game may also be packed in its own dedicated electronic device.
It being understood that the questions below are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, a typical game pack of the present invention may contain a plurality of regular game cards—either hard copy or electronic, having any one of the following questions or their equivalent scripted on the back cover.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the embodiments described above which are presented as examples only but can be modified in various ways within the scope of protection defined by the appended patent claims.
1. A card game for enhancing communication between at least one presenting player and at least one reading player in a close or intimate relationship, said game comprising a plurality of regular cards and a set of non-regular cards, said regular cards comprising a front side and a back side, said back side having scripted thereon for enunciation by the reading player, questions or answers reasonably calculated to elicit revealing verbal response from the presenting player, and wherein the non-regular cards comprising a front side and a back side, also have scripted on their back side, a game privilege, or a game mandate, or an indulgence or an advantage accruing to the presenting player.
2. The card game of claim 1, wherein the non-regular cards comprise at least one sudden death game-ending card, the presentation of which brings a game session to an automatic end.
3. The card game of claim 1, wherein the non-regular cards comprise at least one defeasible game-ending card, the presentation of which invites the opposing player holding a non-regular card conferring the privilege to defeat a game-ending card to exercise that privilege.
4. The card game of claim 1, wherein the non-regular cards comprise at least one privilege card, the presentation of which confers a game privilege accruing to the presenting player to be exercised at the presenting player's discretion.
5. The card game of claim 1, wherein the non-regular cards comprise at least one mandate card, the presentation of which confers a written mandate to the presenting player which may or may not be detrimental to the presenting party.
6. The card game of claim 1, wherein the non-regular cards comprise at least one indulgence card, the presentation of which invites a stated or unstated indulgence from the reading player to the presenting player.
7. The card game of claim 6, where the indulgence card served by the presenting player has scripted thereon, a privilege to request an indulgence that may be declined by the reading player holding a privilege card that confers the power to decline performing an indulgence.
8. The card game of claim 6, where the indulgence card served by the presenting party has scripted thereon, a privilege to request an indulgence that may not be declined by the reading player.
9. The card game of claim 1, wherein the back side of the regular and non-regular cards also comprise a graphics element.
10. The card game of claim 1, wherein the front side of the regular and non-regular cards look the same.
11. The card game of claim 1, wherein the front side of the regular cards look different from the front side of the non-regular cards.
12. The card game of claim 1, wherein the front side of the non-regular cards look different depending on whether it is a privilege, a mandate, an indulgence card or otherwise confers a game advantage to the presenting player.
13. The card game of claim 1, further comprising at least one set of non-regular cards selected from the group consisting of “Did You Know,” “Quotation,” “Short story,” and “Joke” cards designed to inject insight, humor, entertain, further liven or accentuate the game experience.
14. The card game of claim 1, packaged into audience-appropriate versions wherein the scripts on the regular and non-regular cards are closely tailored to meet the communication needs of the target audience.
15. The card game of claim 1, wherein the scripts on the back side of the regular cards comprise at least one of the following formats: only questions; questions and multiple choice answers; only answers inviting a question as response.
16. An electronic card game for enhancing communication between players in a close or intimate relationships, said game comprising a plurality of regular electronic cards, and a set of non-regular electronic cards, said regular electronic cards comprising a front side and a back side, said back side revealable by an electronic event performed by a presenting player and said back side scripted thereon, questions or answers reasonably calculated to elicit revealing verbal response from the presenting player, and wherein the non-regular electronic cards comprising a front side and a back side, also have scripted on their back sides, a game privilege, or a game mandate, or an indulgence or an advantage accruing to the presenting player.
17. The electronic card game of claim 16, wherein the non-regular electronic cards comprise at least one sudden death game-ending card, the presentation of which brings a game session to an automatic end.
18. The electronic card game of claim 16, wherein the non-regular electronic cards comprise at least one defeasible game-ending card, the presentation of which invites the opposing player holding a non-regular electronic card conferring the privilege to defeat a game-ending electronic card to exercise that privilege.
19. The electronic card game of claim 16, wherein the non-regular electronic cards comprise at least one privilege card, the presentation of which confers a game privilege to the presenting player to be exercised at the presenting player's discretion.
20. The electronic card game of claim 16, wherein the non-regular electronic cards comprise at least one mandate card, the presentation of which confers a written mandate to the presenting player which may or may not be detrimental to the presenting party.
21. The electronic card game of claim 16, wherein the non-regular cards comprise at least one indulgence card, the presentation of which invites a stated or unstated indulgence accruing to the presenting player.
22. The electronic card game of claim 16, where the indulgence card served by the presenting player has thereon, a privilege to request an indulgence that may be declined by the reading player holding a privilege card that confers the power to decline performing an indulgence.
23. The electronic card game of claim 16, wherein the electronic indulgence card served by the presenting party has scripted thereon, a privilege to request an indulgence that may not be declined by the reading player.
24. The electronic card game of claim 16, wherein the back side of the regular and non-regular cards also comprise an animated or nonanimated graphics element.
25. The electronic card game of claim 16, further comprising a set of non-regular cards selected from the group consisting of “Did You Know,” “Quotation,” “Short story,” and “Joke” cards designed to inject insight, humor, entertain, further liven or accentuate the game experience.
26. The electronic card game of claim 16, packaged into user-electable, audience-appropriate versions wherein the scripts on the regular and non-regular cards are closely tailored to meet the communication needs of the target audience.
27. The electronic card game of claim 16, wherein the scripts on the back side of the regular cards comprise at least one of the following formats: only questions; questions and multiple choice answers; only answers inviting a question as response.
28. The electronic card game of claim 16, wherein a game session is accompanied by player electable music score.