Card game, method of play: There's a Moose in the House

United States Patent Application 20060049582

Card game. This method of play employs unique variations of matching cards. Players alternately take turns, playing one card at a time populating their opponent's play area with one leading card to initiate the matching process. This is like an ante up. Once in place, players alternately take turns, playing one card at a time, populating their opponent's play area with the first of two matching cards, while limiting the number of matched cards played against themselves. To limit the number of matched cards played against a player, players may use, on their turn, one card at a time, a card-type to block matching cards and a card-type to void a played matching card. Ultimately, many matched cards are played without being blocked or voided. The player with the fewest matched cards, once the last card is played, wins.

Anderson, Scott K. (West Chester, PA, US)

10/754649

03/09/2006

01/12/2004

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COLLINS, DOLORES R

SCOTT K. ANDERSON (WEST CHESTER, PA, US)

1. What I claim as my invention is a matching card game-variant utilizing a unique deck of playing cards incorporating an original theme and a novel method of play. The card game employs 66 playing cards divided into 5 types; Empty Rooms, (Bathroom, Kitchen, Den, Bedroom, Exercise Room), Matching Rooms but with a Moose in it, Closed door cards, Goose Goosed Moose cards and, There's a Moose in the House cards. It is the goal of each player to populate as many moose cards into your opponents play area while limiting your play area from receiving moose cards by way of the following steps: a. Each player is dealt an initial hand of 4 cards. The rest of the deck is placed face down between players and is used each turn as the draw deck so that players alternately pick up from a reservoir of the remaining cards and play or discard a card from their hand. Play begins to the left of the dealer. b. On each turn, players attempt populate their opponents play area with one card at a time, beginning with a There's A Moose in the House card. c. Once a player is given this card, opponents may choose to populate such play areas with Empty Room cards (one card each turn). d. With this Empty Room card in place, players may choose to “top” the card with a Matching Room with a Moose in it. e. The players with the Empty Rooms cards may choose, on their turn, to “top” the one such card with a Closed Door card, preventing an opponent from putting a Matching Room card that has a Moose in it. f. A player may otherwise choose to void a matched card by playing the Goose Goosed Moose card. This effectively removes a Matching Room with a Moose in it and it's accompanying Empty Room card from your play area. g. Once the last card is drawn from the deck, a shuffled discard pile becomes the new draw pile. Eventually the last card from the discard/draw deck is used. h. Players continue to “play out” from the remaining cards in their hands. Players may have to temporarily “pass” until a card from their hand becomes playable based upon a newly played card. Playing out continues until all players are out of cards or the remaining cards are deemed unplayable. At that point, the player with the fewest cards with a Moose in it wins! i. While this card game is only one embodiment of the invention, playability and functionality, substituted or combined with; dice, tokens, playing pieces, electronic display, Internet play, on a game board, all with or without cards, and in combination of any or all of the above mediums, is reserved as my invention. j. Enhancements and or alterations made with respect to the rules, without departing from the spirit and scope of the game, include; a different character, adding a character(s), actions, rules, images, number of cards, and other editions are reserved as my invention. k. The “moose in the house” theme or any other relative theme found in the spirit and scope of the game, or method of play, derived from, adapted for, or graduated to other mediums including, but not limited to, publishable and presentable storytelling mediums; electronic or printable (books or film for example), living arts (live or taped interpretations for example), and or artistic representation, are also reserved as my invention.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION AND

This card game bears Provisional Patent Application No. 60/438,268, dated Jan. 7, 2003, and has since been successfully licensed to a game manufacturer for release in late 2003/2004. The “Drawings” (images) were printed on 8.5×11 paper and bear formatted cardstock sheets that also measure 8.5×11. Each sheet provides for 8 perforated images measuring 2.35×3.50 each.

These images, when torn from their perforation and compiled, formed a demo-deck for play-testing. Play-testing enabled me to further develop the game's rules and playability among family and friends and once finished, provided manufacturers the opportunity to see if the game was something they wanted to manufacture with their own original art.

The yellow card that bears the title name, “There's a Moose in the House”, appears on the back of each card.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The game was developed for the purpose of family fun, gathering friends, a way to make new friends and for those who enjoy playing cards. The game employs an enjoyable mix of strategy and luck for children.

The game market is flooded with rummy-type games, trick-taking games, matching games, card-slapping games and numeric sequencing games. You won't find any melds here or artsy cards with mystical connotations that value and favor collection over game-play.

There's a Moose in the House employs a different kind of game-play and fresh playability that is unique among card games. Silly situations and fin is the goal of this game. Mathematically, the number of cards work out correctly and since children are the audience, I have each player holding just 4 cards making it very user-friendly for their little hands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

10 There's a Moose in the House Cards

Let's begin with the main card called THERE'S A MOOSE IN THE HOUSE. This is the one with the moose's head pushing open the door. The game begins as each player trys to give another player this card during their turn. When you get this card from another player, it is placed face-up in front of you. When you get a moose in the house, it doesn't leave. Players must shout out “THERE'S A MOOSE IN THE HOUSE” every time this card is played. You can't stop anyone from giving you this card. Once you get this card, you now can be given EMPTY ROOM cards. Each player can get only one THERE'S A MOOSE IN THE HOUSE-card.

25 Empty Room Cards

Kitchen (5 cards), Bathroom (5 cards), Den (5 cards), Bedroom (5 cards), Exercise room (5 cards) Players try to give one of these cards away during their turn to another player. These cards are placed next to a THERE'S A MOOSE IN THE HOUSE-card, face-up, in front of other players. Once a player gets an EMPTY ROOM card, they can get MOOSE cards for the same room from any player during their turn

20 Rooms with a Moose Cards

Kitchen (4 cards), Bathroom (4 cards), Den (4 cards), Bedroom (4 cards), Exercise room (4 cards) Match up the EMPTY ROOM cards with your MOOSE card from your hand and place one face-up on top during your turn. These are counted at the end of the game.

5 Goose Goosed Moose Cards

When someone gives you a room with a moose in it, you may play this card from your hand on top of the moose card to get rid of the moose. Once played you must say “GOOSE GOOSED MOOSE”.

6 CLOSED DOOR Cards

During your turn, you may play a CLOSED DOOR card on top of an EMPTY ROOM card that someone gave you. This will stop someone from giving you a MOOSE card for that room. On the back of all cards is the game name, There's a Moose in the House.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following text has been taken directly from the “rules” that accompany the game.

• • Directions and Instructions
  • THERE'S A MOOSE IN THE HOUSE!
  • A fun and silly card game for ages 6 and up.
  • For 2, 3 or 4 players.
    The Object of the Same:

To have the fewest number of moose CARDS when the last card is played.

66 cards:

• 25 EMPTY ROOM cards (Kitchen, Bathroom, Den, Bedroom and Exercise room)
• 20 MOOSE cards, (same as above but with MOOSES!)
• 10 There's a Moose in the House cards
• 5 Goose Goosed Moose cards
• 6 CLOSED DOOR cards.
  Overview:

Take a look at the cards. There are 5 different rooms; some with a moose, some without. It is up to you to give someone MOOSE CARDS. Whoever has the least MOOSE cards at the end wins!

Set Up and Taking Turns

Each player is dealt 4 cards. The rest of the deck is placed face down in the middle of the players. Play begins to the dealers left. The first player picks up one card from the deck and plays one card from their hand each turn. Once you play a card, turn goes to the person on your left. Cards must be played as follows:

The Cards:

THERE'S A MOOSE IN THE HOUSE Cards:

Let's begin with the main card called THERE'S A MOOSE IN THE HOUSE. This is the one with the moose's head pushing open the door. The game begins as each player trys to give another player this card during their turn. When you get this card from another player, it is placed face-up in front of you. When you get a moose in the house, it doesn't leave. Players must shout out “THERE'S A MOOSE IN THE HOUSE” every time this card is played. You can't stop anyone from giving you this card. Once you get this card, you now can be given EMPTY ROOM cards. Each player can get only one THERE'S A MOOSE IN THE HOUSE-card.

EMPTY ROOM Cards:

Players try to give one of these cards away during their turn to another player. These cards are placed next to a THERE'S A MOOSE IN THE HOUSE-card, face-up, in front of other players. Once a player gets an EMPTY ROOM card, they can get MOOSE cards for the same room from any player during their turn.

MOOSE Cards:

Take a look at the EMPTY ROOM cards that others have in front of them. Match up the EMPTY ROOM cards with your MOOSE card from your hand and place one face-up on top during your turn. These are counted at the end of the game.

CLOSED DOOR Cards:

During your turn, you may play a CLOSED DOOR card on top of an EMPTY ROOM card that someone gave you. This will stop someone from giving you a MOOSE card for that room.

GOOSE GOOSED MOOSE Cards:

When someone gives you a room with a moose in it, you may play this card from your hand on top of the moose card to get rid of the moose. Once played you must say “GOOSE GOOSED MOOSE”.

Can't play any cards from your hand? Simply discard it in a pile next to the pick-up deck. Turn then goes to the next player.

Playing Out at the End:

Once the last card is drawn from the deck, play continues from the cards in the player's hands. Each player gets a chance to use one card at a time or discard. Play continues until the last card is used. Once the last card is used . . . . whoever has the fewest MOOSES in the house wins!