Methods and apparatus for playing word games

Abstract

A method and apparatus for playing a word game with two, three or four players competing to spell as many words as possible within a period of one minute. The game includes a deck of 59 cards, each having two or three letters on its face. Words must start with the letters shown on a, card which is drawn from the deck. Each syllable of a word counts one point. Selected words must comply with specified rules. The players decide in advance whether bonus words are to be included in the game. The score is doubled for a bonus word. If bonus words are included, selected words must also comply with additional specified rules. The players agree in advance on a dictionary to be consulted, if necessary. The winner is the player with the highest score.

1 . A method of playing a word game comprising:
 presenting a plurality of players with a letter combination;   recording character strings of each player within a certain time period; and   computing a score for each player based on the number of syllables of words said player specifies in words formed by said recorded character strings.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the letter combination comprises two letters. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the letter combination comprises two or three letters. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said recorded character strings must each begin with said letter combination. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further including allowing any player to challenge words recorded by other players. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a computer automatically randomly or pseudo-randomly selects said letter combinations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein players must record only words having at least four letters. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each word recorded by each player must be correctly spelled. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein only foreign words in the dictionary are allowed. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein contractions, abbreviations, proper nouns and hyphenated words are not allowed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein all forms of the word other than contractions, abbreviations, proper nouns and hyphenated words are allowed. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein all classes of a word may be separately used. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further including scoring certain words as bonus words, wherein the letter combinations are entirely between the first and last syllables of a selected word. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein in order for a word to count as a bonus word, none of a predetermined three-letter combination may be part of the first or last syllable of the word. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the beginning and end of a syllable is determined in a manner that syllables are shown in the dictionary. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said letter combinations comprise at least ten or more of the following, BE, TER, CHA, DIS, UND, APP, RE, GRA, TRA, BRA, COM, REL, BL JE, PRO, PA, OP, NE, NO, BA, LE, STR, EX, FL, YO, STA, VE, SP, CO, LA, DE, MIS, MAN, PAR, QUI, REC, TE, WA, YE, SE, IN, IM, GR, FO, KI, KE, ANT, EXC, JA, WI, VI, OR, AL, ALL Ml, CON IND, IMP, BR, QU, RA. 
     
     
         17 . A kit for playing a word game comprising:
 a timer;   a recorded listing of predetermined letter combinations that are randomly or pseudo-randomly selected and displayed to each of said players,   means for recording words provided by a plurality of game players that use said letter combinations in a manner such that each player cannot see words being recorded by other game players until after a time period timed by said timer expires;   wherein, in use, said kit is used according to game play rules that score players based upon the number of syllables the players record.   
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for playing word games comprising:
 at least one input device through which a game player can input character strings;   at least one display device capable of displaying letter combinations;   a timer that is automatically capable of timing a time period; and   a processor coupled to said timer, said at least one input device and said at least one display, said processor causing said display to display randomly or pseudo-randomly-selected predetermined letter combination, receiving inputs from said at least one input device, and generating at least one score based at least in part on the number of syllables inputted into said input device.