The collaborative magnetic puzzle game

Inventing is my hobby . I like to create  unusual funny  games . Reading old patents is my second hobby. When I read  old patents  I see  how the core game mechanic  idea    has been changed during decades and even a centuries.    My current project  is a magnetic puzzle game.  The oldest patent  was published more than 100 years ago!

We see a flat transparent box with magnetic play pieces and one magnetic stick for play piece control.

In korean patent  from 2014  we still see the same transparent box, play pieces  (with one magnetic  insert in each)  and one magnetic stick for play piece  control.

I have found another branch of evolution   where  each play element contains two magnetic inserts. This game  still contains one magnetic stick  but with two magnets. 

 The most interesting magnetic game was made by HAPE. Here we see two players with two magnetic pens.

 

 Some time ago I found an article about collaborative puzzle game  for children with ASD . It is an interesting fact that autists  do not like turn-taking games in general. Scientists  created a video game with huge touch screen . In this game each  virtual puzzle element can be moved only by collaborative efforts of two players. It looks great  but it is too expensive !

When you  know the history of the game  it is easier to make the next step.  So did I.

I  have replaced competition with collaboration!

 Here is a photo of my first prototype made from picture frame, cardboard, ball pens, balls from bearings, and niodime magnets.  Two players have no way but  to discuss and agree  what play piece to move and  then they  have to pull and turn  it  in a really collaborative way to the determined position. The more color matches the get - the better.

 As a result we get  an unusual magnetic  puzzle game  with  the following benefits :

1. one  player can play with two hands and two magnetic sticks improving his fine motor skills;
2. two players can play collaborative game using one magnetic stick each;
3. game initially designed for children can be used in business training for "team-building" exercises;
4. parents of a child with ASD  can use this game   as a tool for occupational therapy  
5.  points #1 and 2#  may be usefull in the Montessori-style learing  process at preschool stage
   
6.  may be it will be cool to test your partner with this game before marriage: if he\she is ready   for collaboration?
   

 I continue to polish my project step by step. With new sticks the game looks much better.

P.S.

 In April, 2023   I got an utility patent number   from the  Belarussian State Patent Office. It will be published in June  2023. So I have some protection of my intellectual property.

August 26.

And this is how I feel  my puzzle game should look like  for customer .

Here is how "Solo" mode looks like.
 

And "2 Players"mode : 

 

 It is clear to me that such a game is a "niche product" , but who knows, may be I will find a manufacture for it .

 

#magnetic puzzle, #toys, #collaborative_game, #board game, #collaborative rehabilitation, #intergenerational, #occupational_therapy, #social_skills, #game_for_couples, #psychological_compatibility, #fine_motor_skill, #Montessori, #preschool, #bilateral_hand_coordination, #pre-writing_activity, #hand_eye_coordination,