MAZE GAME APPARATUS WITH STORYTELLING

Abstract

A maze game with storytelling is configured to enable a player to play by selecting and placing connectible puzzle pieces to collectively form a maze. Each connectible puzzle piece includes a character, a segment of a path, and a plot of a story. The maze game includes a plurality of connectible puzzle piece of various types. Types of the puzzle pieces include puzzle pieces that include illustrations of characters that specify a part of evolving plots of a story. The player plays the maze game by interactively selecting and placing connectible puzzle pieces and create a maze by extending segments of the path while evolving plots of a story. The game includes the player perform storytelling based on an evolving plot of the story by tracing the path of the maze using an actor piece.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/170,644, filed on Apr. 5, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Puzzles and mazes of a variety of types have been popular for playing by people of all ages. For example, a jigsaw puzzle includes a plurality of tiles or puzzle pieces, respectively indicting parts of a picture. A player places the tiles adjacent to one another where adjacent pieces fit for completing the picture. A maze provides a player to find a continuous path from a starting point to an ending point. Some maze games enable the player to create a maze by connecting pieces. Issues arise in use of the puzzles and the mazes for education for developing creativity, for therapeutical purposes, and for expanding its use after completing the puzzles and mazes.

It is with respect to these and other general considerations that the aspects disclosed herein have been made. Also, although relatively specific problems may be discussed, it should be understood that the examples should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background or elsewhere in this disclosure.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, the above and other issues are resolved by providing a set of puzzle pieces (i.e., connectible pieces) including a plurality of types and creating a maze while also creating a story based on a series of plots as indicated by puzzle pieces placed next to each other. The present disclosure iteratively receives and places interactively selected puzzle pieces by connecting the puzzle pieces to extend a maze path while generating a story for storytelling once the maze is completed.

A present disclosure relates to a puzzle game for a maze with storytelling. Players select and place puzzle pieces including plots to create a maze while generating a story by connecting the plots along maze paths. A complete maze includes paths including a complete path between a start point and an end point and one or more paths that end at a dead end (i.e., a cul-de-sac). A path includes a series of plots as indicated by puzzle pieces, each plot effectively becomes a part of a story for a storytelling while creating and/or after completing the maze.

Types of puzzle pieces include a start point (e.g., a beginning of the path), an end point (e.g., the final terminal point of the path), a cul-de-sac (e.g., a dead-end point of the path), a two-way pass-through, a three-way junction, and a four-way or other multiple-sided junction of a path. Some of the puzzle pieces include illustrations of animals, tools, buildings, and other characters and objects for illustrating a plot for use with creating a story.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, which is further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Additional aspects, features, and/or advantages of examples will be set forth in part in the following description and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples are described with reference to the following figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example a maze game from a top view with puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example a maze game with types of puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example puzzle piece in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example maze with puzzle pieces with plots for storytelling in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example method of playing a maze game with puzzle pieces and storytelling in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a computing device with which aspects of the present disclosure may be practiced in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the disclosure are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which from a part hereof, and which show specific example aspects. However, different aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in many different ways and should not be construed as limited to the aspects set forth herein; rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the aspects to those skilled in the art. Aspects may be practiced as methods, systems, or devices. Accordingly, aspects may take the form of a hardware implementation, an entirely software implementation or an implementation combining software and hardware aspects. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for playing a maze game using puzzle pieces (i.e., connectible pieces) with plots for a building a maze with storytelling. While puzzles and mazes of a variety of types have been popular for playing by people of all ages, issues arise when a child is tasked to create a maze and to play with the maze because designing a maze needs specialized skills to ensure that a maze satisfies specific conditions including there is one path that connects and/or extends from a start point to an end point while there are one or more dead ends. Further issues arise to meet a need for children and/or those who train cognitive and creative skills to enjoy a game at the time of creating visuals of a maze and/or paths through playing with the completed maze and/or the paths. For example, traditionally, completed mazes and drawn paths have been used for a display and/or tracing over the paths by using a car toy and the like.

The present disclosure addresses the above issues by providing a set of puzzle pieces with illustrations of characters and a segment of a path for building a maze and a story with plots by placing each puzzle piece next to each other. Respective characters depict distinct plots for players to connect as the players connect (e.g., extend) the respective segments of paths to build a maze. The set of puzzle pieces may include various types of patterns of paths needed to satisfy rules for designing a maze. Upon completing the maze, a story based on the connected or extended plots are complete for the players share the storytelling by tracing the paths, which may include portions of the paths that lead to dead ends and the paths that may lead to the end point (e.g., the goal). The disclosed technology includes an actor piece for tracing the path. Accordingly, the present disclosure enables users to design and build a maze and a story with a set of puzzle pieces and to share the story. The disclosed technology with a variable number of puzzle pieces with characters, props, and other functions (e.g., secret portals) enables a player of all ages, including children, to design, develop, and play the maze with storytelling at the level of complexity that matches with cognitive skills.

In aspects, the disclosed technology may include a set of puzzle pieces with graphical drawings on a top surface, or applied to all surfaces of a polyhedron, for creating a maze by placing the pieces next to each other and extending a path. Building the maze forms a maze path that connects a start point and an end point. The path may divide into multiple paths along the way. In aspects, only one path may connect between the starting point and the end point; the rest of the paths may lead to cul-de-sacs (i.e., dead ends). Placing the puzzle pieces forms a maze with a series of plots along the path connected across the puzzle pieces. In aspects, the respective puzzle pieces indicate characters and other objects, from which a player use as a plot of a story for storytelling. Receiving and placing all the puzzle pieces complete a maze with storytelling. A goal of the game is to successfully build a maze and perform a storytelling based on a story created by a series of plots as specified by the respective puzzle pieces placed in the maze.

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) illustrate examples of a set of puzzle pieces placed for a maze game with storytelling from a top view in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Storytelling is an integral part of in the present disclosure in combination with the maze game. Storytelling enables players to express themselves and can be used for fun and entertainment. Storytelling may also be used as a therapeutic exercise for cognitive skills and communications. Illustrated pieces overcome language barriers and allow players of different languages to communicate. Illustrated pieces are also helpful for young players who may not be able to read or write.

The present disclosure integrates aspects storytelling into the maze puzzle game at least on two levels. First, the apparatus causes players to be mindful of building a story with a series of plots along a maze path as the players connect the puzzle pieces of their choice and builds the maze path. Second, players use actor-character pieces that are movable along a complete maze path to encounter and interact with the various illustrated puzzle pieces.

FIG. 1(a) illustrates an example maze 100a where four puzzle pieces (e.g., the start point, cats, trees, snakes (a cul-de-sac)) have been placed and two remaining pieces (e.g., the houses 102a and the end point 104a) to be placed to connect the path. The path may be indicated in a color that is in contrast with the background color of the respective puzzle pieces. In aspects, the player selects the puzzle piece with the houses 102a as a next step and places the houses 102a next to the cats to extend the path from the cats. The player may then place the end point 104a below the houses 102a to complete building the maze.

In aspects, building the maze integrates creating a story for storytelling based on plots indicated by the respective puzzle pieces in a sequence along the path. For example, cats illustrated on a puzzle piece may indicate some plot that is relevant to the cats (e.g., “I saw the cats that are leading me to walk ahead.”) as the first plot after starting the maze at the start point. Similarly, the trees indicate some plot that is relevant to trees, which follow the plot about the cats. For example, the story may indicate the cat taking me into the woods. The snakes are indicated on the puzzle piece at a cul-de-sac (e.g., dead end). For example, a story being generated may indicate finding cats as the actor moves along the path and follows the cats into the woods. After following the cats into the woods, the actor is scared by the snakes at the dead end of the path. Accordingly, the actor may (be forced to) turn around and walk back to a place where the actor found the cat to continue another path.

FIG. 1(b) illustrates an example of the maze 100b that is complete. The maze 100b includes six puzzle pieces in place, including a puzzle piece with houses 102b and another puzzle piece on an ending point 104b. The maze 100b indicates an actor piece 106 on the cats. The actor piece 106 is movable along the path across the puzzle pieces in the maze for storytelling.

For example, continuing from the actor going returning to the cats from the snakes, the story may continue along a path to the houses, and then to the end point. The story may indicate that I ran back to the cats. The cats took me to my home safely as the end of the story.

In aspects, a number of puzzle pieces is not limited to the six. There may be additional types of characters and junctions of paths. The players may place the puzzle pieces in a rotated manner to extend the path.

Accordingly, the claimed invention provides a variety of plots and stories by placing the puzzle pieces and extending paths. Some paths may lead to a dead end (e.g., cul-de-sac) while others lead to the final destination (i.e., the end point) based on variations of combinations of puzzle pieces with various characters. For example, start from a start point; then use a 3-way junction piece; off the 3-way junction—the 1st path goes to a dead-end cul-de-sac where the player tells a story of turning around to run away from an obstacle like the spider, the second path goes to a prop piece like the glasses, the third path goes to a portal where the player may jump across the board to the corresponding portal landing. Following the second path to the glasses, a player then can use a prop piece like the book; then use a character piece (like the dog) and tell a story about giving the glasses and book to the dog; then, go to the end point.

In another example, start from a start point; then use the 4-way junction with 2nd of the paths looping back to connect to each other; have a 3rd path go to the house; have the 4th path go to a transportation like the yacht. The player may tell a story of taking a long walk through the looping paths, and then going down the path to the house, and then connecting to the yacht, and sailing by a flower before reaching the end point.

In yet another example, start from a start point; use a character piece like the butterflies for a player to visit, before going to a 3-way junction, and following the 1st path off the junction hitting a cul-de-sac with spiders that must be vanquished, then going back to the 2nd path which leads to a gold star that needs to be ‘claimed’ with a map-marker pin-flag, then going back to the 3rd path, which leads to the end point.

FIG. 2 illustrates type of pieces in the maze game with storytelling according to the present disclosure. A maze game with storytelling according to the present disclosure includes a following categories of pieces that players can use to facilitate their storytelling: 1) Characters; 2) Locations; 3) Transportation; 4) Props; 5) Obstacles; 6) Rewards; 7) Trail-Crumbs/Map-Marker Pin-Flags; and 8) Trap-Door Secret-Passage Portals. Using this wide array of pieces, each player can create infinite variations within their storytelling. Players must make choices at each turn in the maze path, and each choice leads to a different result. Each story is unique, and storylines can unfold in multiple ways by using different combinations of pieces, and by traveling through the maze on different routes. Depending on each player's choices of how to relate the pieces to one another, and/or which direction to travel through the maze path and which route to take, the storytelling possibilities are endless.

In aspects, character pieces include two subtypes. Illustrations (Stationary) pieces indicates graphical illustrations. These illustrated characters may be incorporated within the constructions of the maze path itself as puzzle pieces, for example: dogs; cats; butterflies. Actors (Mobile) pieces are separate character game-play pieces after completing the maze. A player may move the actor piece along the maze path to encounter and interact with the various elements within the maze, for example: A person figure, ‘Child’ figures, like a child, or bear cubs, or ducklings. ‘Adult’ figures, like a parent, teacher, coach, chef, fireman. ‘Challenge’ or ‘Bad Guy’ figures, like a mysterious cloaked entity, or a net.

In aspects, location pieces include illustrated places that an actor can go to within the maze, for example: a house; a forest; a school; a library; a restaurant; and mountains. Players use location pieces independently, or as pairs in conjunction with the Trap-Door Secret-Passage Portal functionality.

In aspects, transportation pieces include illustrated pieces of items within the maze that an actor can use to ride or travel, for example: a sailboat; a bicycle; a hot air balloon; a truck. Players may use transportation pieces by themselves or as a pair with the Trap-Door Secret-Passage Portal as a plot to jump to another location in the maze path.

In aspects, props pieces include illustrated pieces of useful items that an actor may want to collect or visit within the maze, for example: eyeglasses; a book; an umbrella; a flashlight; a key. Players may ‘claim’ prop pieces by marking them with the Trail-Crumbs/Map-Marker Pin-Flags.

In aspects, obstacles pieces include illustrated pieces that are dead ends within the maze and contain potentially threatening items, for example: snakes; bats; spiders. For example, a player may indicate a plot: “I had to stop and turn around there because the snakes were so scary.”

In aspects, rewards pieces include illustrated pieces within the maze path of desirable items that an actor may want to collect, for example: a gold star; four leaf clovers; a flower; a cluster of hearts; gold coins. Players can ‘claim’ these pieces by marking them with the Trail-Crumbs/Map-Marker Pin-Flags.

Trail Crumbs: in aspects, trail-crumbs pieces, map-marker pieces, and pin-flag pieces may be used by a player to track the paths and specific places that the actor character piece has traveled throughout the maze, similar to how push-pin/thumb-tacks are sometimes used to mark locations on a map. Players also may use the pin-flag pieces to mark and ‘claim’ a reward piece (e.g., a gold star piece), to mark and ‘claim’ a transportation piece (e.g., a yacht), to mark and ‘claim’ a prop piece (e.g., an umbrella), or to mark and indicate that an obstacle has been vanquished (e.g., a snake). The trail-crumbs, mapmaker, and pin flags may provide functionality to help enhance the storytelling and/or improve visuals of the game pieces by highlighting the traveled path.

In aspects, trap-door pieces/secret-passage portals pieces represent pieces that allow an actor to jump from one piece of the maze to another identically matching piece of the maze. The trapdoor/secret-passage portal pieces are designated by identically matching shapes and/or illustrations on the pieces. For example, an actor may come to a piece illustrated with a hot air balloon, and the actor may then jump to another piece illustrated with an identical hot air balloon located in a different part of the maze. This functionality can be applied to any identically matching pieces within the maze.

The disclosed maze game integrates plots for generating a story for storytelling. The following illustrates an example of using puzzle pieces that respectively represent a bear cub, a book, a library, a flashlight, a dog, a key, a bicycle, a gold star, and a spider. Players may use the trapdoor/secret-passage portal pieces to jump through the maze, as well as travel along the maze paths one plot at time. Players may use the trail-crumbs and map-marker pin-flags pieces to ‘claim’ props, rewards, transportation, and to vanquish obstacles.

For example, a story may indicate the following: the bear cub collects a flashlight, shines it on the dog, who gives the cub a key, to unlock a bicycle, which the cub uses to ride to the library, where he must vanquish a spider, before collecting a book, and receiving a gold star.

Another example of a story may indicate the following: the bear cub collects a book, and using the flashlight, hunts for a gold star, which he uses to trade to the dog, in exchange for a key, which the cub uses to open the library door, so that he may return the book, but when he leaves the library, he finds a spider, and must run to his bicycle to escape the spider, and ride to the end of the maze.

Yet another example of a story may indicate the following: The bear cub rides his bicycle to the library, where he receives a gold star for helping a dog return a book, and the cub then collects a flashlight, which he uses to shine on and scare a spider, and the cub then collects a key to unlock the end of the maze.

As should be appreciated, the various methods, devices, applications, features, etc., described with respect to FIG. 2 are not intended to limit the game to being performed by the particular applications and features described. Accordingly, additional configurations may be used to practice the methods and systems herein and/or features and applications described may be excluded without departing from the methods and systems disclosed herein.

The present disclosure provides variations in rule of play for the maze game with storytelling. In aspects, the maze game may be integrated with narrative storytelling. Using the illustrated pieces and actor pieces, a player may tell a story, moving their actor through the maze that they have created. For example, by constructing the maze using the pieces illustrated with the cat, the book, and the glasses, the story prompt could be “Help the cat find his glasses, so that he may read the book”, and the path would follow that narrative through those illustrated pieces.

In aspects, playing the maze game with storytelling may be open-ended. That is, a player can use as many or as few pieces as they choose, and rotate them in any orientation, to create a maze however they want.

The maze game with storytelling may be used by an individual, single player for his/her own satisfaction. A player may crate the maze for another player to solve and/or interact through storytelling. The maze game with storytelling may be cooperative among multiple players. For example, a group of five players have eight puzzle pieces each. Then, they take turns adding a piece one at a time to connect to the other players' pieces, thereby collectively creating a final group story and a maze.

The maze game with storytelling may be a competitive game. For example, two players have 20 pieces each; for 5 minutes they each create their own maze; then, they switch places and race to solve the other player's maze; whoever successfully solves their opponent's maze first wins.

Scavenger Hunt: the maze game with storytelling may represent a scavenger hunt activity. In aspects, an actor must visit and/or ‘collect’ or ‘claim’ certain illustrated items before reaching the end. For example, the challenge could be: “Visit the dog, go by the house, and collect the umbrella before reaching the end of the maze.” In aspects, during the scavenger hunt activity, the player may use the trail-crumb, map-marker, and pin-flag pieces to indicate which items they had ‘marked’ and ‘claimed’ before reaching the end of the maze. The player may thereby show that they had successfully completed the scavenger hunt challenge, by placing a pin-flag on each item listed in the scavenger hunt.

FIG. 3 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In particular, the puzzle pieces 300 include but not limited to a start point, an end point, a cul-de-sac (i.e., a dead end) that terminates the path, or a portal to jump from one location to another. The puzzle pieces 300 respectively include one path for connecting to another puzzle piece for initiating or terminating a maze path. The cul-de-sac puzzle pieces which includes a maze path entry/exit points on one side of the geometric figure.

FIG. 4 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The puzzle pieces 400 respectively include graphical illustrations of a path that passes through the respective puzzle pieces 400. The puzzle pieces 400 may include one or more shapes (e.g., a loop or a curve) as a path passes through the puzzle pieces 400. In some aspects, a puzzle piece may indicate a straight path (e.g., entry and exit points on two opposite sides of the geometric figure). A puzzle piece may be a corner (e.g., a piece has a maze path entry/exit points on two adjacent sides of the geometric figure.

FIG. 5 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Puzzle pieces 500 respectively includes three points for a maze path entry/exit, forming a three-way junction within the respective puzzle pieces 500.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example puzzle piece in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. A puzzle piece 600 indicates a four-way junction, joining four paths.

In aspects, the puzzle pieces may include a sheet with a magnetized side or a sticker/decal with an adhesive side, a card, a block, and/or a tile. In some aspects, a puzzle piece may be a cube or other polyhedron, each side indicating an illustration of a character with a path for a player to select. For example, the play may connect the cubes by showing illustrations of choice facing up. The puzzle pieces may be parts of a coloring book.

In aspects, puzzle pieces may be interactively displayed on a screen display of a computing device. The computing device may be a handheld device. A memory in the computing device or a computer may include a database. The database may store data associated with respective puzzle pieces of the set of puzzle pieces and locations for placing respective puzzle pieces in one or more data structures with indices for a data search. In aspects, the computing device interactively displays a set of remaining puzzle pieces and receives selections of one or more puzzle pieces. The computing device may display a sheet to place selected puzzle pieces next to each other to extend a path and generate a maze. In some aspects, the computing device may interactively display and receive instructions by the player to move an actor piece along a path. In some other aspects, the computing device may record plots of a story in the database and play back the story by retrieving the respective plots from the database to assist the player as the player utters the story during storytelling.

The puzzle pieces may include forms that are other than a four-sided shape. In aspects, a shape of a puzzle piece is not limited to a square. Other shapes may include a tringle, a rectangle, an octagon, a hexagon, or other shapes for placing puzzle pieces next to each other. In some aspects, a shape of a puzzle piece may include interlocking stars or any interlocking tessellation shapes. Shapes of puzzle pieces may be a collection of random shapes.

FIG. 7 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Puzzle pieces 700 includes illustrated puzzle pieces for a cul-de-sac (e.g., a dead end). In aspects, the puzzle pieces 700 for a cul-de-sac may include illustrations of characters that look scary or a location that convey a negative or sad feeling. For example, the characters may include bats, snakes, and spiders. Players may use the characters for a plot of a story.

FIG. 8 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Puzzle pieces 800 include a path that passes through the puzzle pieces 800, some represent corners and others represent a straight pass-through. The puzzle pieces 800 may include illustrated characters and objects. Examples of the characters and the objects may include but not limited to a star, yachts, eyeglasses, trees, a flower, an umbrella, houses, clovers, and a book.

FIG. 9 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Puzzle pieces 900 includes three-way junctions. Examples of illustrated characters include but not limited to butterflies, cats, and dogs.

FIG. 10 illustrates example puzzle pieces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The maze 1000 as a completed maze puzzle includes a total of 24 puzzle pieces, placed next to one another to form a maze path from a start point to an end point with two cul-de-sacs. The maze 1000 includes a pair of secret portals (i.e., IN and OUT).

FIG. 11 illustrates an example method of playing a maze game with puzzle pieces and storytelling in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. A general order of the operations for the method 1100 is shown in FIG. 11. Generally, the method 100 starts with a start operation 1102 and ends with an end operation 1116. The method 1100 may include more or fewer steps or may arrange ordering of the steps differently than those shown in FIG. 11. The method 1100 shall be explained with reference to the systems, component, devices, modules, methods, etc., described in conjunction with FIGS. 1-10.

Select or receive a selection of a puzzle piece operation 1104 receives a puzzle piece selected from a set of pieces available for playing the maze game with storytelling. In aspects, a player may select the puzzle piece from a set of puzzle pieces.

Interactively receive a location and orientation operation 1106 receives a location and an orientation of the puzzle piece to place. In aspects, the location is next to a puzzle piece that has been previously placed to extend a maze path. In some aspects, a player may specify the location to place the puzzle piece.

Placing operation 1108 places the selected puzzle piece on at the location and orientation on surface. In an example the placed puzzle piece may be placed next to a previously placed puzzle piece thereby extending the maze path.

Receive a plot operation 1110 receives an updated plot of a story. In aspects, a puzzle piece indicates a plot. Puzzle pieces with distinct illustrations of characters and objects may indicate plots that are distinct from one another. In aspects, the plot of the story evolves and updated as more puzzle pieces are attached and the maze path extends.

When there is one or more remaining puzzle pieces to place, the decision operation 1111 proceeds to receive a next selection of a puzzle piece. When there is no more remaining puzzle piece to use for completing the maze, a prompting operation 1114 interactively prompts a player to tell or enact the story based on the plot associated with a series of the puzzle pieces along with path. The method 1100 ends with the end operation 1116.

As should be appreciated, operations 1102-1116 are described for purposes of illustrating the present methods and systems and are not intended to limit the disclosure to a particular sequence of steps, e.g., steps may be performed in different order, additional steps may be performed, and disclosed steps may be excluded without departing from the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a computing device with which aspects of the present disclosure may be practiced in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device may be a mobile computing device, for example. One or more of the present embodiments may be implemented in an operating environment 1200. This is only one example of a suitable operating environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality. Other well-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, programmable consumer electronics such as smartphones, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

In its most basic configuration, the operating environment 1200 typically includes at least one processing unit 1202 and memory 1204. Depending on the exact configuration and type of computing device, memory 1204 (instructions to perform a maze game with storytelling as described herein) may be volatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.), or some combination of the two. This most basic configuration is illustrated in FIG. 12 by dashed line 1206. Further, the operating environment 1200 may also include storage devices (removable, 1208, and/or non-removable, 1210) including, but not limited to, magnetic or optical disks or tape. Similarly, the operating environment 1200 may also have input device(s) 1214 such as remote controller, keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input, on-board sensors, etc. and/or output device(s) 1212 such as a display, screen speakers, printer, motors, etc. Also included in the environment may be one or more communication connections 1216, such as LAN, WAN, a near-field communications network, a cellular broadband network, point to point, etc.

Operating environment 1200 typically includes at least some form of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by processing unit 1202 or other devices comprising the operating environment. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other tangible, non-transitory medium which can be used to store the desired information. Computer storage media does not include communication media. Computer storage media does not include a carrier wave or other propagated or modulated data signal.

Communication media embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

The operating environment 1200 may be a single computer operating in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers. The remote computer may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device, or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above as well as others not so mentioned. The logical connections may include any method supported by available communications media. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet.

The description and illustration of one or more aspects provided in this application are not intended to limit or restrict the scope of the disclosure as claimed in any way. The aspects, examples, and details provided in this application are considered sufficient to convey possession and enable others to make and use the best mode of claimed disclosure. The claimed disclosure should not be construed as being limited to any aspect, for example, or detail provided in this application. Regardless of whether shown and described in combination or separately, the various features (both structural and methodological) are intended to be selectively included or omitted to produce an embodiment with a particular set of features. Having been provided with the description and illustration of the present application, one skilled in the art may envision variations, modifications, and alternate aspects falling within the spirit of the broader aspects of the general inventive concept embodied in this application that do not depart from the broader scope of the claimed disclosure.

As will be understood from the foregoing disclosure, one aspect of the technology relates to an apparatus and a system for playing a maze game with storytelling using puzzle pieces. An aspect of the technology relates to a maze game with storytelling. The maze game comprises a plurality of connectible pieces collectively representing a maze when connected to each other, wherein the plurality of connectible pieces includes a first connectible piece, wherein the first connectible piece includes a first segment of a path, a plot of a story, and a first character, wherein the path is extended when the first segment of the path of the first connectible piece is connected to a second segment of the path and a second character on a second connectible piece of the plurality of connectible pieces, wherein the plot of the story is updated when the second connectible piece is placed next to the first connectible piece by aligning a first edge of the first connectible piece with a second edge of second first connectible piece, causing a player to extend the path and update the plot of the story, and wherein the plot of the story evolves as the path is extended by iteratively connecting subsequent connectible pieces of the plurality of connectible pieces; and an actor piece, wherein the actor piece is movable along the path to enact the story based on an evolving plot of the story as the actor piece iteratively moves along the path from a start point toward an end point. The plurality of connectible pieces include a sheet with a magnetized surface. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of: a start point piece or an end point piece, wherein the start point piece represents a starting point of the path, and wherein the end point piece represents a final terminal point of the path. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a prop piece, wherein the prop piece includes an illustration of an item to be picked up or claimed by the player as a part of the plot of the story. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a location piece, wherein the location piece includes an illustrated piece of object for traveling as a part of the plot associated with the one of the plurality of connectible pieces. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a portal piece, wherein the portal piece represents either a portal for jumping from the one of the plurality of connectible pieces to another portal piece. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a location piece, wherein the location piece represents a place for visiting in a plot of story. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a cul-de-sac piece, wherein the cul-de-sac piece indicates a dead-end of the path. The second segment of the path on the second connectible piece includes a multi-way junction of the path. The plurality of connectible pieces includes a shape of one of: a triangle, a square, or a hexagon.

Another aspect of the technology relates to a method of playing a maze game with storytelling. The method comprises selecting a first connectible piece from a plurality of connectible pieces, wherein the first connectible piece includes a first segment of a path, a plot of a story, and a first character associated with the first plot of the story; placing the first connectible piece onto a surface; selecting a second connectible piece from the plurality of connectible pieces, wherein the second connectible piece includes a second segment of the path, and a second character; placing the second connectible piece onto the surface, wherein a first edge of the first connectible piece attaches along a second edge of the second connectible piece, wherein the first segment of the path extends onto the second segment of the path, wherein the plot of the story evolves based on the second character, and wherein a combination of segments of the path including the first segment and the second segment represents a maze path; creating a story including the plot evolving along the maze path for the storytelling; and enacting the storytelling based on the story while traversing by using an actor piece the sequence of evolving the plot along the maze path. The plurality of connectible pieces include a sheet with a magnetized surface. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of: a start point piece or an end point piece, wherein the start point piece represents a starting point of the path, and wherein the end point piece represents a final terminal point of the path. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a prop piece, wherein the prop piece includes an illustration of an item to be picked up or claimed by a player as a part of the plot of the story. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a transportation piece, wherein the transportation piece includes an illustrated piece of object for traveling as a part of the plot of the story. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a portal piece, wherein the portal piece represents either a portal for jumping from the one of the plurality of connectible pieces to another portal piece. At least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a location piece, wherein the location piece represents a place for visiting in the plot of the story.

Another aspect of the technology relates to an apparatus for playing a maze game with storytelling. The apparatus comprises a plurality of connectible pieces collectively representing a maze when connected to each other, wherein the plurality of connectible pieces includes a first connectible piece, wherein the first connectible piece includes a first segment of a path and a first character, wherein a plot of a story is created based on the first connectible piece when the path of the first connectible piece is connected to a second segment of the path and a second character on a second connectible piece of the plurality of connectible pieces, wherein the plot of the story evolves when the second connectible piece attaches next to the first connectible piece by aligning a first edge of the first connectible piece with a second edge of the second connectible piece, causing a player to extend the path and to update the plot of the story based on a sequence of the first connectible piece and the second connectible piece, and wherein the plot of the story further evolves as the path is iteratively connected to subsequent connectible pieces of the plurality of connectible pieces; and an actor piece, wherein the actor piece is movable along the path to perform the storytelling based on evolving plots as the actor piece iteratively moves along the path starting at a start point toward an end point. The plurality of connectible pieces include a sheet with a magnetized surface, and wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of: a start point piece or an end point piece, wherein the start point piece represents a starting point of the path, and wherein the end point piece represents a final terminal point of the path, a prop piece, wherein the prop piece includes an illustration of an item to be picked up or claimed by the player at least in the plot of the story, a transportation piece, wherein the transportation piece includes an illustrated piece of object for traveling a least in the plot of the story, a portal piece, wherein the portal piece represents either a portal for jumping from the one of the plurality of connectible pieces to another portal piece, a location piece, wherein the location piece represents a place for visiting at least in the plot of the story, or a cul-de-sac piece, wherein the cul-de-sac piece represents a dead-end of the path. The second segment of the path on the second connectible piece includes a multi-way junction of the path.

Any of the one or more above aspects in combination with any other of the one or more aspect. Any of the one or more aspects as described herein.

Claims

1. A maze game with storytelling, the maze game comprising:

a plurality of connectible pieces collectively representing a maze when connected to each other, wherein the plurality of connectible pieces includes a first connectible piece, wherein the first connectible piece includes a first segment of a path, a plot of a story, and a first character, wherein the path is extended when the first segment of the path of the first connectible piece is connected to a second segment of the path and a second character on a second connectible piece of the plurality of connectible pieces, wherein the plot of the story is updated when the second connectible piece is placed next to the first connectible piece by aligning a first edge of the first connectible piece with a second edge of second first connectible piece, causing a player to extend the path and update the plot of the story, and wherein the plot of the story evolves as the path is extended by iteratively connecting subsequent connectible pieces of the plurality of connectible pieces; and

an actor piece, wherein the actor piece is movable along the path to enact the story based on an evolving plot of the story as the actor piece iteratively moves along the path from a start point toward an end point.

2. The maze game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectible pieces include a sheet with a magnetized surface.

3. The maze game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of:

a start point piece or a end point piece, wherein the start point piece represents a starting point of the path, and wherein the end point piece represents a final terminal point of the path.

4. The maze game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a prop piece, wherein the prop piece includes an illustration of an item to be picked up or claimed by the player as a part of the plot of the story.

5. The maze game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a location piece, wherein the location piece includes an illustrated piece of object for traveling as a part of the plot associated with the one of the plurality of connectible pieces.

6. The maze game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a portal piece, wherein the portal piece represents either a portal for jumping from the one of the plurality of connectible pieces to another portal piece.

7. The maze game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a location piece, wherein the location piece represents a place for visiting in a plot of story.

8. The maze game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a cul-de-sac piece, wherein the cul-de-sac piece indicates a dead-end of the path.

9. The maze game of claim 1, wherein the second segment of the path on the second connectible piece includes a multi-way junction of the path.

10. The maze game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectible pieces includes a shape of one of:

a triangle,

a square, or

a hexagon.

11. A method of playing a maze game with storytelling, the method comprising:

selecting a first connectible piece from a plurality of connectible pieces, wherein the first connectible piece includes a first segment of a path, a plot of a story, and a first character associated with the plot of the story;

placing the first connectible piece onto a surface;

selecting a second connectible piece from the plurality of connectible pieces, wherein the second connectible piece includes a second segment of the path, and a second character;

placing the second connectible piece onto the surface, wherein a first edge of the first connectible piece attaches along a second edge of the second connectible piece, wherein the first segment of the path extends onto the second segment of the path, wherein the plot of the story evolves based on the second character, and wherein a combination of segments of the path including the first segment and the second segment represents a maze path;

updating the story including the plot evolving along the maze path for the storytelling; and

enacting the storytelling based on the story while traversing by using an actor piece a sequence of evolving the plot along the maze path.

12. The method of claim 11, the plurality of connectible pieces include a sheet with a magnetized surface.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of:

a start point piece or an end point piece, wherein the start point piece represents a starting point of the path, and wherein the end point piece represents a final terminal point of the path.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a prop piece, wherein the prop piece includes an illustration of an item to be picked up or claimed by a player as a part of the plot of the story.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a transportation piece, wherein the transportation piece includes an illustrated piece of object for traveling as a part of the plot of the story.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a portal piece, wherein the portal piece represents either a portal for jumping from the one of the plurality of connectible pieces to another portal piece.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of a location piece, wherein the location piece represents a place for visiting in the plot of the story.

18. An apparatus for playing a maze game with storytelling, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of connectible pieces collectively representing a maze when connected to each other, wherein the plurality of connectible pieces includes a first connectible piece, wherein the first connectible piece includes a first segment of a path and a first character, wherein a plot of a story is created based on the first connectible piece when the path of the first connectible piece is connected to a second segment of the path and a second character on a second connectible piece of the plurality of connectible pieces, wherein the plot of the story evolves when the second connectible piece attaches next to the first connectible piece by aligning a first edge of the first connectible piece with a second edge of the second connectible piece, causing a player to extend the path and to update the plot of the story based on a sequence of the first connectible piece and the second connectible piece, and wherein the plot of the story further evolves as the path is iteratively connected to subsequent connectible pieces of the plurality of connectible pieces; and

an actor piece, wherein the actor piece is movable along the path to perform the storytelling based on evolving plots as the actor piece iteratively moves along the path starting at a start point toward an end point.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of connectible pieces include a sheet with a magnetized surface, and wherein at least one of the plurality of connectible pieces represents at least a type of:

a start point piece or an end point piece, wherein the start point piece represents a starting point of the path, and wherein the end point piece represents a final terminal point of the path,

a prop piece, wherein the prop piece includes an illustration of an item to be picked up or claimed by the player at least in the plot of the story,

a transportation piece, wherein the transportation piece includes an illustrated piece of object for traveling a least in the plot of the story,

a portal piece, wherein the portal piece represents either a portal for jumping from the one of the plurality of connectible pieces to another portal piece,

a location piece, wherein the location piece represents a place for visiting at least in the plot of the story, or

a cul-de-sac piece, wherein the cul-de-sac piece represents a dead-end of the path.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second segment of the path on the second connectible piece includes a multi-way junction of the path.