US 6,273,420 B1 · Electronic maze game

Abstract

The maze game consists of a plurality of horizontal segments and a plurality of vertical segments that define a two-dimensional array of m×m squares or spaces where the size m is selectable by the user. In each potential segment location the present invention randomly locates: (1) a solid wall corresponding to a portion of the maze walls; (2) an opening creating a passage way through the maze; (3) special feature; or (4) the refuge, of which there is precisely one per maze. At the beginning of the game, the maze is invisible to all players. As the players move through the initially invisible maze, the maze walls adjacent each player's position become visible in a manner dictated by a particular vision setting selected at the beginning of the game. The goal of one player, who may be represented in the game as a cat, is to catch the other player, which may be represented in the game as a mouse, by occupying the mouse's location, i.e., by landing on the mouse. The mouse's object is to reach the refuge, or mousehole, which is located at a unique location within the maze, before being caught.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A maze game method comprising the steps of:

a) generating a maze comprised of a plurality of spaces each said space being defined by two opposed vertical and two opposed horizontal segments;
b) causing each of said vertical and horizontal segments of said maze to be an open or solid wall;
c) generating representations of at least two players and positioning said players in different said spaces at the start of said maze game;
d) making said walls invisible to said players at the start of said maze game;
e) moving said players through said maze;
and
f) making visible to each said player at least one of said invisible walls located immediately adjacent the space into which one of said players moves in response to said player moving into said space.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic maze game

Life of this patent

Electronic maze game

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32