Welcome to Purple Pawn, covering games played around the world by billions of people every day.
07 Oct
Posted by Yehuda Berlinger as Card Games, Electronic Games, Modern Board Games
I’m skipping several automatic card shufflers, dealers, and electronic card trackers.
Gaming device having board and converting chip game – An Othello variant, where certain spaces are more valuable, something to do with chips and betting, and the intention of turning it into a casino gaming device. Cites a similar patent application, also about Othello.
Modified blackjack game – A “knockout” card is added to the deck, and when it appears, the player with the lowest cash value at the end of that round is eliminated from play.
By the Gaming Show Network, which distributes electronic games for use by cable companies.
System and method for playing a poker game – Discard as many cards as you want and try to get a three-of-a-kind. If you do, you can discard as many cards as you want (up to the number you discarded the first time) to try to get a four-of-a-kind.
Roulette game apparatus and method – This guy goes on for ten pages explaining how the spaces on the traditional roulette wheel is not distributed fairly. Math geeks may enjoy the discussion. He provides a reworking of the number, area, and color distribution (similar to another patent claimed a few months ago).
Secondary game – God only knows. This one also goes on for 36 pages, without a lucid sentence.
It’s also the first patent I’ve ever seen which entirely abandons the standard format of patent organization, which includes a summary, background, and then description. There is no background or summary. There are dozens of pages of terminology definitions, and a brief description at one point (two people play with the same ordered set of cards at different locations, probably via electronic means), and then pages and pages without a paragraph break.
The patent is by “CFPH, LLC” aka Cantor Fitzgerald Patent Holdings, and appears to be related to CF’s Gaming division, Cantor Gaming. CFPH’s overly broad patents have inspired the UK to tighten up on patentability laws.
Pai gow game with supplemental bet – Pai gow is a Chinese gambling game played with Chinese dominoes, and has inspired a card game based on it called Pai gow poker. In either game, players separate cards into two piles, after which the dealer separates his cards into two piles. A player wins if both of his hands beat both of the dealer’s hands. If both don’t, he loses. Otherwise it’s a tie.
This patent includes an additional bet after the player separates, but before the dealer does.
Poker game and apparatus for play thereof – The game and electronic game table of WaSioux, a variant of five-card stud called “A Friendly Game of Poker” invented by Native Americans.
Four card poker and associated games – Four card poker against a dealer (five cards dealt, one discarded). Wowza. This is patentable?
Money counting/money fact board game apparatus and method – Got to love patents: “The board may include a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, which together substantially form a square.”
A board game called “Money Match & Move” by Carmiletta Wiggins. She has also reserved the brand “Match & Move”.
Multiple player participation game – A Liar’s Dice variant around an Octagonal board.
Thirty-one/forty card game – The abstract: “Each bettor wagers on a first hand (the RED hand) or a second hand (the BLACK hand). The first hand is dealt until the count value is at least 31 and not more than 40. The second hand is dealt until the count value is at least 31 and not more than 40. The higher hand wins. Ties are pushes. Aces count one, face cards count ten and all other cards count their pip value.”
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They should ban patents on derivative games. “I take game A and change 1 tiny rule to patent it” LAME. Wait. They should ban patents on games! Just like software patents, they limit creativity and innovation (although, judging from the games above, not too much) rather than promote it.