Configurable game apparatus

Abstract

A game apparatus includes a playing surface having a plurality of playing areas and marking areas. Each of the playing and marking areas includes a plurality of holes arranged into a grid, wherein each of the marking areas is paired with a corresponding playing area. The game apparatus further includes a plurality of playing elements, which form a hidden code and at least one test code, and a plurality of marker elements, which indicate the correlation between the positions of each playing element forming the test code and the positions of the playing elements forming the hidden code. The playing surface of the game apparatus is configurable such that the arrangement of the playing area grids can be selected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Game apparatus comprising:
 a playing surface comprising a plurality of identical playing areas wherein each of the playing areas includes a plurality of holes arranged into a grid, and further comprising a plurality of marking areas wherein each of the plurality of marking areas is paired to a corresponding one of the plurality of playing areas and includes at least a corresponding number of holes;   a plurality of playing elements for forming a hidden code and at least one test code, the playing elements having contrasting characteristics and being adapted to be received in each playing area grid;   a plurality of marker elements for indicating the correlation between the positions of each playing element forming the test code and the positions of the playing elements forming the hidden code, the marker elements having contrasting characteristics and being adapted to be received in the holes of each marking area; and   wherein the playing surface is configurable such that the arrangement of the playing area grids can be selected.   
     
     
         2 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the playing surface further comprises a removable attachment that provides each of the plurality of playing areas. 
     
     
         3 . A game according to  claim 2 , wherein the playing surface comprises a plurality of removable attachments each providing a characteristic grid arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . A game according to  claim 2 , wherein the removable attachment is a mask that determines the grid pattern of the playing area holes. 
     
     
         5 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the playing elements are pegs or pins that are inserted into the holes of the playing areas. 
     
     
         6 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the playing elements are of contrasting colors. 
     
     
         7 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the marker elements are pegs or pins that are inserted into the holes of the marking areas. 
     
     
         8 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the marker elements include contrasting patterns or symbols. 
     
     
         9 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the marker elements are of contrasting colors. 
     
     
         10 . A game according to  claim 1 , wherein the grid pattern of the playing area holes comprise a 4-hole, 6-hole, 8-hole, 9-hole or 12-hole configuration 
     
     
         11 . A game according to  claim 10 , wherein the 4-hole, 6-hole, 8-hole, 9-hole and 12-hole configurations respectively comprise a 2×2, 2×3, 2×4, 3×3 and 3×4 hole arrangement. 
     
     
         12 . A game according to  claim 2 , wherein the removable attachment overlay comprises a plurality of crosspieces interconnected by support members to form a rectangular annulus shape. 
     
     
         13 . A game according to  claim 1 , further comprising a code board including a removable insert configured to receive a plurality of playing elements to form the code to be deciphered. 
     
     
         14 . A game according to  claim 13 , wherein the configuration of the code to be deciphered is adapted to be changed by selecting one of a plurality of removable inserts, each having a plurality of holes arranged into a characteristic grid pattern.