Puzzle Game Method and Apparatus

Abstract

A puzzle game includes a plurality of puzzle pieces, some of which have indicia thereon. The pieces can be fit together and points can be scored by matching indicia in adjacent pieces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A puzzle game comprising:
 puzzle pieces sized and shaped to be positioned together; and   indicia on one or more of the puzzle pieces;   wherein puzzle pieces with matching indicia can be sequentially interconnected by players to score points.   
     
     
         2 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia comprises one or more symbols. 
     
     
         3 . The puzzle game of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more symbols are positioned at one or more edges of the of the puzzle pieces. 
     
     
         4 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia comprises at least one of a color, a line, a letter, and a number. 
     
     
         5 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia is embossed on the puzzle pieces. 
     
     
         6 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia is debossed on the puzzle pieces. 
     
     
         7 . The puzzle game of  claim 3 , wherein two different symbols are positioned on a puzzle piece. 
     
     
         8 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , wherein the puzzle pieces have straight edges. 
     
     
         9 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , wherein the puzzle pieces have one or more edges that are nonlinear. 
     
     
         10 . The puzzle game of  claim 9 , wherein the puzzle pieces have tessellated edges. 
     
     
         11 . The puzzle game of  claim 10 , wherein some or all of the puzzle pieces have identical shapes. 
     
     
         12 . The puzzle game of  claim 10 , wherein the tessellated edges include tabs. 
     
     
         13 . The puzzle game of  claim 10 , wherein the puzzle pieces have symmetry allowing for rotational positioning with identical tab positioning. 
     
     
         14 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , further comprising a game board. 
     
     
         15 . The puzzle game of  claim 14 , wherein the game board identifies puzzle piece positions. 
     
     
         16 . The puzzle game of  claim 14 , wherein the game board includes one or more scoring modifiers. 
     
     
         17 . The puzzle game of  claim 15 , wherein the game board includes game board indicia thereon. 
     
     
         18 . The puzzle game of  claim 15 , wherein the game board indicia is positioned on a border around the game board. 
     
     
         19 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia is hidden. 
     
     
         20 . The puzzle game of  claim 19 , wherein the indicia can only be viewed from certain perspectives. 
     
     
         21 . The puzzle game of  claim 19 , wherein the indicia can only be viewed with a viewing aid. 
     
     
         22 . The puzzle game of  claim 14 , wherein the game board is modifiable by the players. 
     
     
         23 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , wherein the puzzle pieces include receptacles for holding markers. 
     
     
         24 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , wherein the puzzle pieces are primary puzzle pieces and the puzzle game further comprises secondary puzzle pieces that can include additional game play elements. 
     
     
         25 . The puzzle game of  claim 24 , wherein the secondary puzzle pieces are matching in shape to the primary puzzle pieces. 
     
     
         26 . The puzzle game of  claim 24 , wherein the secondary puzzle pieces are shaped to be positioned together to form a completed puzzle different from the primary puzzle pieces. 
     
     
         27 . The puzzle game of  claim 24 , wherein the secondary puzzle pieces can be interconnected on top of the primary puzzle pieces as another layer. 
     
     
         28 . The puzzle game of  claim 27 , wherein multiple layers of puzzle pieces can be formed. 
     
     
         29 . The puzzle game of  claim 28 , wherein each layer of puzzle pieces includes different game play elements. 
     
     
         30 . A puzzle game comprising:
 a computing device with a display;   images of puzzle pieces generated by the computing device on the display, the puzzle pieces sized and shaped to be positioned together; and   indicia on one or more of the puzzle pieces;   wherein puzzle pieces with matching indicia can be sequentially interconnected by a player to score points.   
     
     
         31 . A method of playing a game having puzzle pieces comprising:
 dividing a plurality of puzzle pieces among players, a subset of the plurality of puzzle pieces having one or more indicia thereon and having one or more surfaces for positioning together with other puzzle pieces;   allowing players to alternatingly play puzzle pieces by positioning puzzle pieces together with other puzzle pieces having matching indicia; and   awarding points to players for positioning puzzle pieces together having matching indicia.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a player can play multiple puzzles pieces in a turn wherein the pieces are positioned together with pieces that include matching indicia. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a player picks up one or more pieces at the end of the player's turn. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the puzzle pieces are played on a game board. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the game board includes indicia thereon and a player is awarded points for matching the indicia on the puzzle pieces with the indicia on the game board. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein additional points are awarded when a player plays a puzzle piece having multiple indicia that match the indicia on a plurality of other puzzle pieces that the played piece is positioned adjacent with. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a player can modify the indicia on a puzzle piece as the game is being played. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the indicia is modified by placing a sticker on a puzzle piece. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the indicia is hidden and the method further comprises using a viewing aid to view the indicia.