U.S. patent application number 11/680201 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for method and system for a game of knowledge for multiple players including wagering.
Invention is credited to Charles Low, Dirk McFarlane-Aitken, Grant Craig Peires.
Application Number | 20070202937 11/680201 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38923602 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070202937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Peires; Grant Craig ; et
al. |
August 30, 2007 |
Method and System for a Game of Knowledge For Multiple Players
Including Wagering
Abstract
A game of knowledge including wagering is played by multiple
players. The players of the game place wagers to outwit the other
players, such that the other players decide to leave the game, and
based on their belief that they can correctly answer a question on
a selected topic. A sole player remaining in the game, or the
player(s) answering the question correctly, win or share a betting
pot generated during at least one wagering round performed before
the question is answered. The wagering round(s) follows the format
conventional in the game of poker.
Inventors: |
Peires; Grant Craig;
(London, GB) ; McFarlane-Aitken; Dirk;
(Hertfordshire, GB) ; Low; Charles;
(Hertfordshire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NORRIS MCLAUGHLIN & MARCUS, P.A.
P O BOX 1018
SOMERVILLE
NJ
08876
US
|
Family ID: |
38923602 |
Appl. No.: |
11/680201 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60777696 |
Feb 28, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2009/2488 20130101;
A63F 1/00 20130101; G07F 17/3295 20130101; A63F 3/00082 20130101;
A63F 2001/005 20130101; G07F 17/3276 20130101; G07F 17/32
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/009 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method for playing a game comprising: assigning a starting
stake to each of a plurality of players; selecting, by at least a
first of the players, at least a first category from a plurality of
categories; revealing at least one question from the selected
category; performing at least one wagering round, wherein the
wagering round generates a betting pot including amounts wagered;
in the event a plurality of players remain in the game following
the wagering round, answering of the question by each of the
players remaining in the game following the wagering round; and
distributing an amount from the betting pot to (i) a player who is
the only player remaining in the game after completion of a
wagering round, or (ii) each of the players who remain in the game
following the wagering round and answer the question correctly.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wagering round is performed
at least one of (i) before the at least first of the players
selects the category; (ii) after the at least first of the players
selects the category; and (iii) after the at least one question
from the selected category is revealed.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: revealing a clue for
the at least one question; and performing a wagering round after
the revealing of the clue and before the answering of the at least
one question.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein a hand corresponds to the at
least one question and an opportunity to answer the at least one
question, wherein the wagering round is performed for a first hand
after the at least one question is revealed and before the at least
one question corresponding to the first hand is answered by any of
the players, wherein the wagering round requires an ante by any
player who desires to participate in wagering and remain in a hand,
wherein a maximum bet in the wagering round does not exceed the
stake of any of the players remaining in a hand, and wherein the
wagering in the wagering round includes passing, raising or
folding.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the players are contestants on a
television game show including at least one gaming round as part of
a gaming tournament played before a studio audience and broadcast
to a home viewing audience, the method further comprising:
providing each member of the studio audience with an electronic
data entry device for entering data and communicatively
transmitting the data to a gaming controller; displaying a question
to each member of the studio audience; and selecting as the
contestants for the game show a predetermined number of the members
of the studio audience who entered a correct answer to the question
in the corresponding communication device.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising: distributing a deal
card to one of the contestants; performing the wagering round after
the at least one question for the selected category is revealed and
before any of the contestants answer the at least one question,
wherein a hand corresponds to the at least one question revealed
and an opportunity to answer the revealed at least one question,
wherein wagering during the wagering round for a hand comprises:
establishing a betting pot including an ante from each of the
contestants who have a remaining stake and decide to play the hand;
the contestant with the deal card beginning the wagering round and
betting or passing the bet to a second of the contestants; the
second contestant passing, raising or folding, depending upon
previous wagers in the hand; and after the second contestant
passes, raises or folds, any other contestant who decided to play
the hand passes, raises or folds, depending upon previous wagers in
the hand; wherein (i) if a contestant folds during a round of
wagering for a hand, the contestant does not answer the at least
one question for the hand; (ii) if a single contestant who decides
to play the hand remains in the hand at the conclusion of the
wagering round, then the stake of the single contestant increases
by the amount of the betting pot for the hand; and (iii) if a
plurality of the contestants remains in the hand at the conclusion
of the wagering round, then the plurality of the contestants
proceeds to answer the at least one question.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: distributing the
amount in the betting pot to the at least one contestant remaining
in the hand who answers the at least one question correctly,
wherein if the at least one question includes a plurality of
questions, the pot is distributed to the at least one contestant
remaining in the hand who answers the greatest number of the at
least one questions correctly.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising: assigning the deal
card to at least a selected second of the contestants at the
conclusion of a hand, wherein the second of the contestants has a
remaining stake; selecting, by the second contestant, a second
category different from a previously selected category; revealing
at least one question from the second category; performing at least
one wagering round for a hand corresponding to the at least one
question from the second category, wherein the second contestant
begins wagering in the wagering round for the hand for the at least
one question from the second category by passing or raising and,
after the second contestant wagers, any contestant who decides to
play the hand for the at least one question from the second
category passes, raises or folds, depending upon any previous
wagers in the hand.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: after a predetermined
number of hands are completed, identifying the contestant having
the largest remaining stake as a winner.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: in a supplemental
round, revealing a plurality of questions within a predetermined
time interval, wherein, for each of the questions revealed, the
winner wagers no more than the winner's current stake that the
winner will correctly answer the question; updating the stake of
the winner after each question is answered during the supplemental
round; and after completion of the supplemental round, determining
if the stake of the winner exceeds the sum of the starting stakes
assigned to the contestants for the gaming round and if yes, having
the winner decide whether to proceed to an advanced gaming round of
the tournament or leave the tournament with an amount equal to the
stake; and if no, awarding the winner with an amount equal to the
winner's current stake.
11. The method claim 10, wherein if the winner decides to proceed
to the advanced gaming round, having the winner decide to convert
to a cash award any portion of the stake exceeding the sum of the
starting stakes assigned to the contestants for the gaming
round.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising: revealing two double
or nothing questions to the winner in succession; and the winner
answering at least one of the two double or nothing questions
correctly to proceed to the advanced gaming round, wherein the
winner is required to wager the entire amount of the winner's
current stake on any of the double or nothing questions the winner
decides to answer, and wherein the winner proceeds to the advanced
round after answering at least one of the two double or nothing
questions and the winner's stake exceeds a predetermined double or
nothing amount.
13. The method of claim 5 further comprising: displaying to the
home viewers a communication address for entering an answer to a
question revealed during the game; and awarding a prize to at least
a first viewer who enters a correct answer to the question at the
communication address.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication address is a
premium address requiring payment of a fee for access.
15. The method of claim 9 further comprising: displaying to the
home viewers a communication address for entry of a name of a
contestant who did not win the gaming round.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication address is a
premium address requiring payment of a fee for access.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the game is at least one of a
board game, an online game, a PC game, a DVD game, a casino game
and a game played on a mobile device.
18. The method of claim 5 further comprising: providing for display
of information relating to play of the game on at least one of a
monitor (i) visible by the studio audience and (ii) of a viewer in
the home viewing audience.
19. A system for playing a game comprising: a plurality of first
gaming units for use by a respective plurality of contestants; a
gaming controller coupled to the first gaming units, wherein the
controller assigns a starting stake to each of the contestants;
wherein at least a first of the contestants uses a first of the
gaming unit to select at least a first category from a plurality of
categories revealed by the controller; wherein the controller
reveals at least one question from the selected category for a
hand, wherein a hand corresponds to an opportunity to answer a
question revealed from a category; wherein the controller performs
at least one wagering round for the hand, wherein the wagering
round includes any of the contestants having a remaining stake and
generates a betting pot including amounts wagered; wherein, in the
event a plurality of players remain in the hand following a
wagering round occurring before the at least one question is
revealed, each of the plurality of players remaining in the hand
answers the at least one question; and wherein the controller
distributes an amount from the betting pot to (i) a player who is
the only player remaining in the hand after completion of a
wagering round, or (ii) each of the players who answer the at least
one question correctly, wherein if the at least one question
includes a plurality of questions, the pot is distributed to the at
least one contestant remaining in the hand who answers the most of
the at least one questions correctly.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the wagering round is performed
at least one of (i) before the at least first of the contestants
selects the category; (ii) after the at least first of the
contestants selects a category; and (iii) after the at least first
question from the selected category is revealed.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller reveals a clue
for the at least one question; and performs a wagering round after
revealing the clue and before any of the contestants answer the at
least one question.
22. The system of claim 19, wherein a hand corresponds to the at
least one question and an opportunity to answer the at least one
question, wherein the wagering round is performed for a first hand
after the at least one question is revealed and before any of the
contestants answer the at least one question for the first hand,
wherein the wagering round requires an ante by any contestant who
desires to participate in wagering and remain in a hand, wherein a
maximum bet in the wagering round does not exceed the stake of any
of the contestants remaining in a hand, and wherein the wagering in
the wagering round includes passing, raising or folding.
23. The system of claim 19, wherein the contestants are on a
television game show including at least one gaming round as part of
a gaming tournament played before a studio audience and broadcast
to a home viewing audience, the system further comprising: a
plurality of electronic data entry devices coupled to the gaming
controller and for entering data, wherein each member of the studio
audience is provided with a corresponding entry device; and wherein
the controller displays a question to each member of the studio
audience and selects as the contestants for the game show a
predetermined number of the members of the studio audience who
enter a correct answer to the question in the corresponding
communication device.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller distributes a
deal card to one of the contestants and performs the wagering round
after the at least one question for the selected topic is revealed
and before any of the contestants answer the at least one question,
wherein wagering during the wagering round for a hand comprises:
establishing a betting pot including the ante from each of the
contestants who have a remaining stake and decide to play the hand;
the contestant with the deal card entering data into the
corresponding gaming unit to begin the wagering round, wherein the
data is a bet or pass of the bet to a second of the contestants;
the second contestant entering data into the corresponding gaming
unit to pass, raise or fold, depending upon a previous wager in the
hand; and after the second contestant passes, raises or folds, any
other contestant who decides to play the hand entering data into
the corresponding gaming unit to pass, raise or fold, depending
upon a previous wager in the hand; wherein (i) if a contestant
folds during a round of wagering for a hand, the contestant does
not answer the at least one question for the hand; (ii) if a single
contestant who decides to play the hand remains in the hand at the
conclusion of the wagering round, then the stake of the single
contestant increases by the amount of the betting pot for the hand;
and (iii) if a plurality of the contestants remains in the hand
after a wagering round occurring before the question is to be
answered, then the plurality of the contestants proceeds to answer
the question.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein the controller assigns the deal
card to at least a selected second of the contestants after a hand
concludes, wherein the second of the contestants has a remaining
stake; wherein the second contestant on the corresponding gaming
units selects a second category different from a previously
selected category; wherein the controller reveals at least one
question from the second category; and wherein the controller
performs at least one wagering round for a hand corresponding to
the at least one question from the second category, wherein the
second contestant begins wagering in the wagering round for the
hand for the at least one question from the second category by
entering data on the corresponding gaming unit to pass or raise
and, after the second contestant wagers, any contestant who decides
to play the hand for the at least one question from second category
enters data on the corresponding gaming unit to pass, raise or
fold, depending upon any prior wagers for the hand.
26. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller provides for
display of information relating to play of the game on at least one
of a monitor visible by (i) the studio audience and coupled to the
controller and (ii) a viewer of the home viewing audience.
27. A method for playing a game comprising: providing a table for
play of the game by a plurality of contestants; selecting by the
contestants, from a display list, categories for inclusion on an
available category list; positioning contestants about the table in
accordance with the time that each contestant requests to join the
table; selecting a category from the available list by a contestant
who joins the table earlier than other contestants at the table and
who previously had not selected a category from the available list;
performing at least one wagering round, wherein the wagering round
generates a betting pot including amounts wagered; revealing the
question from the currently selected category; answering of the
question and entering an accompanying wager by any of the
contestants in a hand when the question is revealed; and
distributing an amount from the betting pot to each of the
contestants in the hand following the wagering round who answer the
question correctly.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the table is at least one of
(i) a virtual table accessible over a communication network; and
(ii) a physical table.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the accompanying wager includes
minimum and maximum bets.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein a first contestant answering
the question remains eligible for distribution of the betting pot
based on the amount of the maximum bet of the first contestant
relative to the maximum bets of the other contestants answering the
question.
31. The method of claim 27, wherein the table on which the game is
played determines the categories in the display list, limits on
wagering, minimum and maximum number of contestants for play of the
game on the table and limits on the duration of the game.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the duration of the game at the
table is a function of at least one of (i) elapsed time; (ii)
number of questions revealed; and (iii) number of betting pots
distributed.
33. The method of claim 27, wherein a contestant joining the table
after a first betting pot is distributed is the contestant to whom
a bet is passed last in a wagering round for a hand associated with
a subsequent second betting pot.
34. A method for playing a game by a plurality of players
comprising: revealing at least one question; performing at least
one wagering round in connection with the revealed question to
generate a betting pot, wherein the wagering round includes
wagering in accordance with rules of poker; answering of the
question by the players; and distributing an amount from the
betting pot to each of the players who remains in the game
following the wagering round and answers the question correctly.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/777,696 filed Feb. 28, 2006, incorporated by
reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a game of
knowledge for multiple players including wagering and where winning
the game depends on a combination of strategic wagering and a
player's knowledge and intelligence, more particularly, to a game
in which players place wagers (i) to outwit the other players, such
that the other players are eliminated from the game, and (ii) based
on the belief that they will correctly answer a question.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various games of knowledge are known in which players
compete against one another by attempting to respond correctly to
questions concerning selected topics. Some knowledge-based games,
when adapted to a television game show format, have become very
popular and successful. For example, in the television game show
FAMILY FEUD, a team of family members compete against another team
of family members by attempting to correctly answer questions
relating to the results of surveys on a variety of topics. Based on
the popularity and success of the FAMILY FEUD television game show,
board game and DVD game adaptations of the game show also were
introduced.
[0004] The success and popularity of a game of knowledge oftentimes
depend upon attributes or features in the game that complement or
are unrelated to the knowledge-based element. For example, in the
television game show WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE, in which
contestants attempt to correctly answer questions and need to risk
accumulated winnings to remain in, and ultimately win, the game,
members of the studio audience, or individuals not in the studio
audience and pre-selected by the contestants, sometimes participate
in the game by suggesting an answer to a question. It is believed
that the interaction with the studio or home audience and also the
wagering features of the WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE television
game show, in combination with the knowledge-based features,
resulted in the television game show becoming tremendously popular
and successful. Based on the success and popularity of the
television game show, the game elements of the television show were
adapted to other formats, such as, for example, a board game, a
computer game and DVD-based interactive game, which also became
successful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, a game of
knowledge for multiple players including wagering presents players
with questions that test the players' knowledge, and provides that
players can use their wagering skills, including bluffing, to
eliminate other players from the game. During play of the game, the
players participate in at least one wagering round, in which the
players wager against one another and which occurs before the stage
of the game when players reveal an answer to a question that is
presented. The wagering may include (i) a player attempting to
outwit the other players based on the amount wagered, thereby
causing the other players to discontinue play ("fold") on the
question before the stage of the game for revealing an answer to
the question is reached; and (i) wagering by a player based on the
belief that he or she will correctly answer the question. A betting
pot generated during the wagering for a question, where the
wagering may include a wagering round conducted before a question
from a selected category is revealed, is distributed to (i) the
player(s) who placed the necessary wagers to remain eligible to
reveal an answer to the question and then revealed the correct
answer to the question following the conclusion of the wagering for
the question, or (ii) to a sole player remaining in the game after
all of the other players have folded.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the inventive game of knowledge
is adapted into a television game show format where the game is
played as a tournament including several levels of gaming rounds,
where each gaming round includes at least one wagering round. In a
preliminary gaming round, members of a studio audience are selected
as contestants to play the game, based on the speed with which the
members respond, and the correctness of their responses, to a
question on knowledge. Each of the contestants receives a stake at
the beginning of the gaming round, and wager against one another in
at least one wagering round, which occurs before the stage of the
game where players reveal an answer to a question on knowledge from
a selected category. During the wagering round(s), the contestants
with a remaining stake must place the necessary wagers to have an
opportunity to reveal an answer to the question and, ultimately,
win or share the amount in a betting pot generated for the question
during the wagering round(s). The wagering in the wagering round(s)
preferably follows the format conventional to the game of poker.
The contestant having the largest stake at the conclusion of a
preliminary gaming round, during which several questions preferably
have been revealed and answered, decides whether to proceed to an
advanced gaming round or leave the tournament with an amount of
money equal to the contestant's current stake. In the tournament,
several preliminary gaming rounds are played with different
contestants until a predetermined number of contestants has chosen
to proceed to an advanced gaming round. In an advanced round, a
selected number of the contestants who decide to proceed to an
advanced gaming, preferably the contestants having the five highest
current stakes from play during the preliminary gaming rounds, play
the same game as played during the preliminary gaming round. The
tournament may include several advanced gaming rounds culminating
in a final gaming round, and the stake assigned to the contestants
at the beginning of each advanced gaming round increases in each
succeeding advanced gaming round.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the inventive game, such as
adapted as a television game show, a casino game or an online game,
contestants enter answers and wagers on an electronic data entry
device coupled to a centralized controller. The controller controls
play of the game, monitoring contestant answers and wagers entered
on the data entry device, and provides for display of gaming
information, which includes questions, answers, wagers, betting
pot, current stake, moving video images of the contestants and
other contestant-related information, on a monitor. Depending upon
the format into which the inventive game is adapted, the monitor
may include a monitor visible by members of the studio audience for
the game show or spectators of the casino game, or monitors of home
viewers to whom the game show is broadcast.
[0008] In one embodiment of the game, the contestant having the
greatest stake after a predetermined number of questions has been
answered in a gaming round participates in a solo question and
answer round. In the solo round, which has a predetermined time
length, the contestant attempts to correctly answer as many
questions as possible, and wagers any amount not exceeding the
contestant's current stake before attempting to correctly answer a
question. In an alternative embodiment, the contestant in the solo
round selects questions having odds and wagers, in connection with
the odds for a selected question, that he can correctly answer the
selected question.
[0009] In a further embodiment, the contestant who has the greatest
stake after a predetermined number of questions have been answered
in a preliminary gaming round of a tournament must have accumulated
a stake of at least a predetermined amount to join a winning group
including other contestants who also accumulated a stake of at
least the predetermined amount. Only those contestants in the
winning group who have the five highest stakes proceed to an
advanced gaming round in a tournament. In one embodiment, the
contestant having the greatest stake at a predetermined stage of a
gaming round, but whose stake is less than the predetermined
amount, can choose to increase the stake, so as to qualify to
become eligible for an advanced gaming round, by wagering the
entirety of the stake that he will correctly answer at least one
additional question.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following detailed description of the
presently preferred embodiments, which description should be
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which
like references indicate similar elements and in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary gaming
system for implementing a game of knowledge including wagering as a
television game show, in accordance with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for playing a
game of knowledge including wagering using the system of FIG. 1, in
accordance with the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exemplary schematic arrangement of contestants
playing a game of knowledge according to the method of FIG. 2 and
using components of the system of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for playing a
game of knowledge including wagering as an online game using
components of the system of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is an exemplary schematic arrangement of contestants
playing a game of knowledge including wagering as an online game
according to the method of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention of a game of knowledge for multiple
players including wagering is illustrated below in connection with
an adaptation of the game as a television game show in which
questions on knowledge from selected categories, contestant
answers, wagering and other contestant-related information,
including contestant appearance and activities during play of the
game, are displayed to a studio audience and also to a home
television audience, and in which viewers in the home audience and
members of the studio audience have an opportunity to win prizes
and also become a contestant on the game show by answering a
question on knowledge or wagering along with a favored contestant
and winning a portion of the game corresponding to a particular
question, a gaming round or a tournament including a plurality of
gaming rounds. It is to be understood that the inventive game of
knowledge for multiple players including wagering can be adapted,
in accordance with the present invention, into other formats, such
as, a board game, an online game, and a casino game in the
exemplary embodiments illustrated below, and also as a video game,
a PC game, an interactive DVD game and a mobile media game, such as
on a cellular phone.
[0017] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a gaming system 10, in accordance
with the present invention, for implementing a game of knowledge
including wagering, which is played by several contestants and
includes rounds of wagering, preferably following the wagering
format of the game of poker, as a television game show. Referring
to FIG. 1, the gaming system 10 includes gaming units 12
operatively coupled to a gaming controller 14 via data links 16. In
addition, the gaming system 10 includes studio audience keypads 18
operatively coupled to the gaming controller 14 via data links 20.
The gaming controller 14 also is coupled to a monitor 17 over a
data link 19, and a video camera 25 over a data link 27. Further,
the gaming controller 14 includes a viewer communication interface
22 and a multimedia transmitter 24.
[0018] The gaming unit 12 includes a conventional electronic
information entry device, such as a stylus and a writing pad, a
monitor 13 for visually displaying information entered on the
writing pad and also information transmitted to the gaming unit 12
from the controller 14, and control and communication means for
facilitating communication of data between the unit 12 and the
controller 14 and selective display of information on the monitor
13. In a preferred embodiment, the gaming unit 12 is a personal
digital assistant ("PDA"), computer tablet or like device capable
of displaying information entered by a contestant or received from
an external device, such as the controller 14, and exchanging
information between the unit 12 and an external device having
communication capabilities.
[0019] The keypad 18 includes communication capabilities, an
electronic information entry means, such as a keypad, and an
indicating device (not shown), such as, for example, a light
emitting diode, a speaker or a conventional electronically
controllable vibration means, such as a piezoelectric device. In a
preferred embodiment, the keypad 18 has the same functionalities
and components as the unit 12, except for the monitor 13.
[0020] The interface 22 includes a conventional controller having
communication capabilities and is operable to exchange data with a
plurality of communication devices, such as a computer, telephone,
personal digital assistant or a cellular telephone, over wireless
or wired communication networks.
[0021] The multimedia transmitter 24 is a conventional multimedia
transmitter that transmits audio and video information
representative of a live or recorded scene, such as a live or
pre-recorded television show.
[0022] The data links 16, 19, 20, and 27 are conventional wireless
communications links of a wireless data network, or single or
multiple data lines of a wired data network.
[0023] The monitor 17 is a conventional display, such as high
definition plasma or LCD display.
[0024] The video camera 27 is a conventional video camera, such as
a high definition video camera, controllable by an external
controller to generate moving video images and also audio data
representative of a scene, and then transmit the video and audio
data to the controller.
[0025] The gaming controller 14 includes a processor, a server and
a memory, and is operable to receive data signals from, and
transmit control signals and other game-related data to, the gaming
units 12 and the keypads 18; to exchange data signals with a
plurality of communication devices over communication networks via
the interface 22; to transmit control data signals to, and receive
video and audio data signals from, the camera 25; and to transmit
control and multimedia data signals, including audio and video data
received from the camera 25, to the transmitter 24 and the monitor
17. See, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2003/0186745, incorporated by reference herein, for a description
of conventional connections of gaming units with a central
controller and the exchange of gaming information between the
controller and the gaming units or external communication
devices.
[0026] As discussed below in the text accompanying the description
of an exemplary method for play of the inventive game as a
tournament or an individual game show illustrated in FIG. 2, the
gaming controller 14 controls play of a game of knowledge including
wagering where multiple contestants operate respective gaming units
12 to select categories of knowledge, place wagers before answering
questions relating to the selected categories, preferably following
the wagering format conventional in the game of poker, and enter
answers to the questions. The gaming controller 14 is operable to
generate displays on the monitor 17, and also on the monitors of
home viewers receiving a live or pre-recorded broadcast of the
television game show, including gaming information, such as
questions, answers, wagers, the amount in a betting pot for a
wagering round, contestant stakes, moving video images of
contestants and other contestant-related information.
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method 30 for play of a game
of knowledge including wagering as a television game show using the
system 10 of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present invention. In
the illustrative television game show adaptation of the inventive
game, the game is played as a tournament or an individual game show
in which multiple contestants compete in initial and advanced
gaming rounds, and where wagering by a contestant together with the
contestant's knowledge of answers to questions of trivia selected
from various categories determines whether a contestant will win a
gaming round and also can proceed to an advanced gaming round in
the tournament. Referring to FIG. 2, in step 32 the controller 14
selects a predetermined number of members of the studio audience to
become contestants in an initial gaming round, where the
predetermined number is at least three and, preferably, five. In
advance of the date of play of the initial, and also advanced,
gaming rounds, telephone numbers, text numbers or world wide web
addresses associated with the television game show are advertised
to the general public through various media, such as television,
radio, billboards, etc. In addition, the telephone numbers, text
numbers or world wide web addresses associated with the television
game show are displayed or mentioned at various times during
broadcast of the game show or during promotional trailers or
commercials shown in connection with the broadcast of the game
show. Individuals can call the telephone or text numbers, or access
the web addresses, to register with the system 10 for an
opportunity to become a member of the studio audience and possibly
a contestant on the game show. In a preferred embodiment, the
telephone or text numbers are premium rate numbers and the web
addresses are subscription only access web sites.
[0028] For example, where the inventive game is adapted as a
television reality game show, an advertising promotional campaign
is launched a predetermined period, for example, about two to ten
weeks, prior to the airing of the first episode, in other words,
first initial gaming round, of the game show. The advertising, for
example, would state "Are you an Intellectual Cowboy? Call now to
win up to $2.5 million. The biggest game show prize in history is
coming soon. We are looking for just twenty-five of the most
intellectual and streetwise individuals anywhere. If you think you
are a top notch trivia maven, call us on the number identified
below to register now for a chance to become a contestant."
[0029] As part of step 32, individuals of the general public
register with the controller 14 via the communication interface 22.
The interface 22 collects contact information from the individuals,
which the individuals manually enter on, for example, a telephone
or PDA keypad. In an alternative embodiment, the interface 22
automatically collects contact information from the individuals
from data ordinarily included in a communication transmission from
the communication device, such as a telephone or cellular phone, an
individual utilizes to call the advertised number. Of the
individuals that register with the controller 14 during a
predetermined period, such as during the week preceding the day on
which play of an initial gaming round is scheduled, the controller
14 randomly selects a predetermined number, for example, about one
hundred to two hundred, of the registrants to become members of the
studio audience for the upcoming gaming round of the tournament.
The controller 14, via the interface 22, transmits a message to the
selected registrants, inviting them to become a studio audience
member and possibly a contestant in the upcoming gaming round.
[0030] Prior to the start of a gaming round, each member of the
studio audience is provided with a keypad 18. When the controller
14 displays a multiple choice question on knowledge, such as, for
example, a trivia question, on the monitor 17, which may constitute
one or more monitors positioned overhead the studio audience, each
studio audience member can attempt to enter a correct answer to the
question on the keypad 18 as quickly as possible. Each of the
keypads 18 transmits to the controller 14 data representative of
the answer and the identity of the transmitting keypad 18 as soon
as the studio audience member answers the question on the keypad
18. Based on the answer and also the time of transmission of the
answer from an individual keypad 18 to the controller 14, the
controller 14 determines the five members of the studio audience
who were the first to correctly answer the question. The controller
14 then transmits a control signal to the keypads 18 of these five
members, causing the indicator on the keypad 18 to operate, for
example, an LED to flash. Alternatively, the controller 14
generates on the monitor 17 an audio announcement requesting the
members with the keypads 18 having flashing indicators to proceed
to a designated gaming area. The audience members having these
keypads 18 become the contestants for the current gaming round.
[0031] The contestants, who are designated as contestants A, B, C,
D and E for purposes of illustration and ease of reference herein,
proceed to a gaming area in the television studio in which the
television game show is being played. At the gaming area, the
contestants are positioned around a gaming table 100, as shown in
FIG. 3, and sit or stand behind podiums, as is conventional in
television game shows. Referring to FIG. 3, each contestant has a
gaming unit 12, which the contestant uses to enter answers to
questions and place wagers. The gaming units 12A-12E, which are
used by the contestants A-E, respectively, convert the entries to
digital data and then transmit such data to the controller 14. The
monitor 13 for each of the gaming units 12 displays the current
stake of the contestant, any information entered on the unit 12 by
the corresponding contestant and any other gaming-related
information provided by the controller 14. The unit 12 is
configured so that any contestant at the table 100 cannot see the
information displayed on the monitor 13 of another contestant or
entered by another contestant on his or her unit 12.
[0032] The controller 14 provides for display of information
entered by a contestant on the unit 12 on the overhead monitor 17
and also on monitors on which home viewers view a broadcast of the
television game show transmitted by the transmitter 24. The
controller 14, for example, controls the transmitter 24 to transmit
a streaming audio and video data feed, such as over the internet,
satellite or cable television systems, mobile device audio and
video transmission systems or other like audio and video data
transmission systems, for broadcasting the television game show
live to home viewers. It is to be understood that home viewers can
include individuals having mobile devices which include the
capability to receive audio and video data signals, display video
and generate sound, as well known in the art. Alternatively, the
transmitter 24 or another suitable device broadcasts to home
viewers a multimedia recording of a gaming round, where the
controller 14 generates the recording.
[0033] The overhead monitor 17 preferably is one or more large
screen monitors visible by the studio audience and also the
contestants. The controller 14 generates on the monitor 17 and to
home viewers a screen display including, for example, moving video
images of the faces of the contestants on the respective monitors
13 and arranged around the table 100, as shown in FIG. 3, and also
current stake, betting, answer, and other contestant-specific
information juxtaposed to the moving video images of the
contestants. In addition, the screen display preferably includes
the amount in a betting pot generated for a wagering round and the
remaining stake for each of the contestants in the gaming round.
For ease of reference, it is to be understood that reference below
to the controller 14 displaying gaming information, such as the
stake of a player, answer to a question, etc., on the monitor 17
and to home viewers means that the controller 14 generates and
transmits a multimedia data signal that would cause such
information to be displayed on the monitor 17 and also on the
monitors of home viewers viewing a live or pre-recorded broadcast
of the television game show.
[0034] Referring again to FIG. 2, in step 34 the controller 14
assigns a predetermined starting stake, for example, $20,000, to
each of the contestants A-E. The controller 14 automatically
monitors and adjusts the stake for each contestant, based on the
results of wagering and play of the game, and continually displays
the current stake for each contestant on the corresponding monitor
13, the monitor 17 and to home viewers. Although a numerical
representation of the contestants' stakes and also a betting pot
generated during a wagering round, as discussed below, is used
during play of the game in the illustrated television game show
adaptation of the inventive game, in alternative embodiments play
money or chips initially assigned to the contestants and equivalent
in value to the stakes is used during play of the game.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, after the initial stakes are assigned
in step 34, in step 36 the controller 14 deals a card to each of
the contestants where all but one of the cards dealt is blank. The
contestant who receives the non-blank, or deal card, selects a
category from which a question on trivia will be presented, and
also is the contestant who begins the wagering for one or more
rounds of wagering. The categories for trivia include, for example,
sports, history, geography, music, business, politics, current
affairs, television and film, and science and nature. For purposes
of illustration, referring to FIG. 3, it is assumed that contestant
A receives the deal card. During the course of the gaming round,
the controller 14 displays on the monitor 17 and also to home
viewers a representation of FIG. 3 showing the contestant who has
the deal card, categories of topics available for selection, the
category selected, questions, wagers made by contestants, the
betting pot and answers entered by contestants.
[0036] In step 38, the contestant with the deal card selects a
category from any of the categories not previously selected during
the current gaming round. After each category is selected, the
category is no longer available, whether a question from the
category was answered correctly or not, until after all available
categories have been selected in the gaming round.
[0037] In step 40, the controller 14 displays on the monitor 17 and
to home viewers a trivia question corresponding to the selected
category. The trivia question constitutes a "hand" of the gaming
round and wagering, as discussed below, is performed for each
hand.
[0038] In step 42, the contestant with the deal card begins a round
of wagering for the hand. During wagering on a hand, each
contestant must initially wager a minimum amount or ante, for
example, $1,000, to remain in the hand, and the maximum bet placed
by a contestant cannot exceed the lowest stake of a contestant(s)
remaining in the hand. The sum of the amount bet in a hand
generates and is represented as a betting pot, which is displayed
on the monitor 17 and for the home viewers. Wagering commences with
the contestant with the deal card (Contestant A in the example),
who may bet or elect to pass the bet to the contestant sitting to
his left, for example, contestant B. Referring to FIG. 3, wagering
proceeds clockwise around the table 100, or to the left of the
contestant who selected the current category. The contestant to
whom the bet is passed can choose to pass, raise or fold, similar
to the wagering occurring during a betting round in the game of
poker. The wagering continues in this manner around the table 100
for each of the contestants in the hand, until all wagering has
ceased, similar to the wagering occurring during a betting round in
the game of poker. A round of wagering on a hand can include
multiple raises, similar to the wagering occurring during the game
of poker. If a contestant folds at any time during a round of
wagering on a hand, the contestant does not have an opportunity to
answer the question for the hand. If only one contestant remains
when the round of wagering on a hand concludes, then the one
contestant is the winner of the amount in the betting pot for the
hand and the game proceeds to step 46. If two or more contestants
remain in the hand at the end of the wagering round in step 42,
then the game proceeds to step 44.
[0039] It is to be understood that, in alternative embodiments of
the inventive game, a hand for a question commences when a wagering
round is first performed to generate a new betting pot, such as,
for example, wagering occurring before the selection of a category
or the display of a question from the selected category.
[0040] In step 44, the contestants remaining in the hand answer the
question on their gaming units 12, preferably within a fixed
period, such as ten to twenty-five seconds. As wagering on the
question has been concluded, the controller 14 then displays the
answers of the respective contestants, as well as the correct
answer, on the monitor 17 and to the home viewers. If a single
contestant answered the question correctly, that contestant takes
the entire amount in the betting pot for the hand. If two or more
contestants answered correctly, then the amount in the pot is
distributed evenly between or among these contestants. If none of
the contestants answered correctly, then the amount in the pot is
carried over to the next hand and any contestant having a remaining
stake can participate in the hand.
[0041] The controller 14 preferably displays on the monitor 17 and
to the home viewers the stake of each contestant in the gaming
round after each question is answered in step 44. Any contestant
that does not have a remaining stake has busted and cannot
participate in any remaining hands in the gaming round. If only a
single contestant has a remaining stake at the end of step 44, the
game proceeds to step 48.
[0042] After step 44, in step 46 the controller 14 determines if
less than a predetermined number of questions, for example, three,
has been revealed and answered for the currently selected category.
If yes, the contestant with the deal card continues to keep the
deal card and the game proceeds to step 40. If no, the controller
14 displays on the monitor 17 and to the home viewers the deal card
being passed to the contestant to the left of the contestant
currently with the deal card, for example, from contestant A to
contestant B as shown in FIG. 3. The game then proceeds to step 38
if the contestant to whom the deal card was dealt did not
previously select a category. If the contestant who received the
deal card had previously selected a category or a gaming round
timer, which limits the length of a gaming round, has expired, the
game proceeds to step 48.
[0043] In an alternative embodiment, the game automatically
proceeds to step 48 after a predetermined number of questions has
been answered in a gaming round. For example, the gaming round
includes between five and fifteen hands, in other words, five and
fifteen trivia questions to be presented and answered, depending
upon the length of the game, which can be about thirty or sixty
minutes.
[0044] In step 48, the controller 14 displays on the monitor 17 and
to the home viewers the contestant having the largest stake and
such contestant is identified as the winner of the gaming round. If
two or more contestants have the same largest stake, in step 50 a
tie breaker hand occurs. In the tie breaker hand, the controller 14
randomly selects a category from any of the categories, presents a
question from the selected category as in step 40 and another
wagering round occurs among or between the tied contestants as in
step 42. The controller 14 identifies a winner at the end of this
wagering round, or after the contestants remaining in the tie
breaker hand answer the question as in step 44. Step 50 is
repeated, as necessary, until a single contestant has the largest
stake, and then the controller 14 displays this contestant as the
winner on the monitor 17 and to home viewers.
[0045] In step 52, the contestant identified as the winner in step
48 or 50 participates in a solo question and answer ("Let It Ride")
round. In the Let It Ride round, the contestant wagers against the
bank, for example, the producers of the television game show, in an
attempt to increase the contestant's stake and possibly qualify to
participate in an advanced gaming round of the tournament. During
the Let It Ride round, the contestant can wager any amount so long
as the amount does not exceed the contestant's current stake. In
the Let It Ride round, the controller 14 displays a trivia category
randomly selected from any of the categories not selected in the
previous gaming round. The contestant decides how much of his
current stake to wager after each category is displayed, but before
a question from the category is displayed. The contestant is
presented with categories, and questions associated with the
categories, for a predetermined time period, such as three minutes,
and attempts to correctly answer as many questions as possible
during the time period.
[0046] In an alternative embodiment, in the Let It Ride round, a
question is presented in conjunction with odds, and the contestant
chooses to answer a question in view of the odds presented. For
example, the odds for a very difficult question may be 10:1, such
that if the contestant wagers $10,000 and answers correctly, his
stake increases by $100,000.
[0047] After the predetermined time period ends in step 52, in step
54 the controller 14 determines if the contestant's stake following
the Let It Ride round equals or exceeds the sum of the stakes
assigned to the contestants in step 34. If no, in step 56 the
gaming round is over and the contestant leaves the game with an
amount of money equal to the contestant's current stake.
[0048] If the determination in step 54 is yes, in step 58 the
contestant decides whether to continue to play in the tournament
and gamble all or at least a predetermined portion of the current
stake in an advanced round of the tournament. If the contestant
decides not to continue, the game proceeds to step 56 and the
contestant leaves the game with an amount of money equal to the
contestant's current stake. If the contestant decides to continue
to play in the gaming tournament, in step 60 the contestant
proceeds to an advanced gaming round. At this stage of the
tournament, the contestant can remove from his stake, in other
words, not further gamble in the tournament, any amount exceeding
the sum of the stakes assigned to the contestants in step 34 in the
gaming round just completed. The controller 14 displays on the
monitor 17 and to the home viewers the stake of the winning
contestant who decides to leave the tournament at step 56 or
proceed to an advanced gaming round in step 60.
[0049] As part of the tournament, initial gaming rounds according
to steps 32-60 are played with new sets of contestants until at
least five winning contestants proceed to step 60. When five
contestants have proceeded to step 60, these contestants
participate in an advanced gaming round, such as a semi-final
gaming round, which is played according to steps 34-60, except that
in step 34 the initial starting stake assigned to the contestants
exceeds the starting stake for the prior gaming round, for example,
$500,000 instead of $100,000, and is added to the existing stake
for each of the contestants. In a preferred embodiment, the
contestant that proceeds to step 60 in a semi-final gaming round
can then participate in a final gaming round of the tournament.
[0050] In an alternative embodiment, the winning contestants from
the initial gaming rounds are included on a leader board, and after
the leader board includes a predetermined number of winning
contestants, the contestants on the leader board having the five
highest stakes are identified as eligible to proceed to an advanced
gaming round.
[0051] In a preferred embodiment, after twenty-five weeks of
initial gaming rounds or individual game shows and five semi-final
gaming rounds have been played, the contestants qualifying to play
in the final gaming round of the tournament play for a stake equal
to, for example, at least $2.5 million.
[0052] In a preferred embodiment of the television game show
tournament, the tournament includes four rounds as follows: a
preliminary round 1 consisting of 625 games where 3,125 contestants
gamble $640 in groups of five per game; a playoff round 2
consisting of 125 games where 625 contestants gamble $3,200 per
game; a quarter final round consisting of 25 games where 125
contestants gamble $16,000 per game; a semi-final round consisting
of five games where 25 contestants gamble $80,000 per game (5
games); and a final round consisting of a single game where five
contestants gamble $400,000. In a preferred embodiment, a
contestant has the option to leave a game with his current stake at
a designated point of a gaming round, such as the conclusion of a
game show, or alternatively any time.
[0053] In one format of the inventive game as a television game
show tournament, the preliminary, playoff and possibly the
quarter-final rounds are not broadcast in their entirety or even at
all. All or most of the 750 preliminary, playoff and quarter-final
gaming rounds are recorded, however. The controller 14 displays on
the monitor 17 and to the home viewers, during advanced gaming
rounds such as the quarter or semi-final rounds, video clips of
early stages of the tournament showing the play of contestants who
progressed to the quarter or semi-final rounds, and also optionally
showing the contestants at home or at work, such that the home
viewers can begin to select their favorite contestant. The last 30
games of the tournament, in other words, the semi-final and final
gaming rounds, are edited or shown in full, including video clips
of behind the scenes activities and at home clips of the final
contestants and their families and work colleagues.
[0054] In another embodiment of the inventive game as a tournament,
if an insufficient number of contestants qualify for either the
semi-final or final gaming rounds after play of twenty-five initial
gaming rounds and five semi-final gaming rounds, respectively, a
semi-final or final gaming round is scheduled and one or more
members of the studio audience for the gaming round are selected to
become a semi-final or final contestant for that gaming round by
being the first person to correctly answer a multiple choice
question, similarly as described above in step 32.
[0055] In another embodiment of the inventive game, a winning
contestant at step 58 must decide whether to participate in a
"Double or Quits" round as part of step 60. If the winning
contestant decides against continuing to play the game, then that
contestant leaves with his stake in step 56 and the contestant in
second place, i.e., the contestant having the second greatest
remaining stake in the current gaming round, has an opportunity to
attempt to increase his remaining stake and possibly advance to the
next round of the gaming tournament, preferably so long as the
current stake of the second place contestant satisfied the
requirements of step 54. In a Double or Quits round, a contestant
must answer at least one of two questions correctly, and can
advance to step 60 only if the contestant's stake exceeds a
predetermined minimum after both questions have been presented. In
an alternative embodiment, the winning contestants from this stage
of the tournament are included on a leader board, and after the
leader board includes a predetermined number of winning
contestants, the contestants on the leader board having the five
highest stakes are identified as eligible to proceed to the next
advanced gaming round.
[0056] For example, continuing with the illustration of the game
with the contestants A-E described above, if the predetermined
minimum is $500,000 and contestant A is the winner of the gaming
round with $287,500 of winnings, then contestant A needs to choose
to answer only one of the two Double or Quits questions. If
contestant A answers one of the questions correctly, then
contestant A would proceed to an advanced gaming round in step 60.
If contestant A desires, contestant A can pass on the first of the
two questions presented, and thus answer only the second question.
If contestant A decides not to participate in the Double or Quits
round in step 58, the runner-up to the winner, for example,
contestant B who has a stake of $125,000, would qualify to play in
the Double or Quits round, as contestant B satisfied the
requirements of step 54. Contestant B, however, would need to
correctly answer both questions in the Double or Quits round to
proceed to an advanced gaming round and avoid elimination from the
tournament without any winnings. Should contestant B fail to reach
the next round, the third place contestant, for example, contestant
C, would have an opportunity to qualify and increase his stake by
playing the Double or Quits round, so long as contestant C
satisfies the requirements of step 54. Alternatively, the winning
contestants from this stage of the tournament are included on a
leader board, and after the leader board includes a predetermined
number of winning contestants, the contestants on the leader board
having the five highest stakes are identified as eligible to
proceed to the next advanced gaming round.
[0057] In a further embodiment, the method 30 includes a wagering
round, which is performed in a manner similar to the wagering round
described above for step 42, between steps 36 and 38 or steps 38
and 40, or between the former and latter.
[0058] In another embodiment, the method 30 is modified such that,
after the wagering round for a first question is completed in step
42, the contestants remaining in the hand answer the question, as
in step 44, except that a winner of the hand is not yet determined.
The answers of the contestants remaining in the hand, as well as
the correct answer, are then displayed to the home viewers and on
monitors 17 visible only to studio audience. Another (second)
question from the selected category is then revealed, as in step
40, and then a wagering round is performed for the second question,
similarly as in step 42. Any contestant remaining in the hand,
which in this embodiment includes the first and second questions,
then answers the questions similarly as in step 44. If a single
contestant remaining in the hand answers both questions correctly,
that contestant takes the entire amount in the betting pot for the
hand. If two or more contestants answer both questions correctly,
then the amount in the pot is distributed evenly between or among
these contestants. If none of the contestants answer both questions
correctly, and two or more contestants answer one of the questions
correctly, then the amount in the pot is distributed evenly between
or among these contestants. If none of the contestants answer
either of the two questions correctly, then the amount in the pot
is carried over to the next hand and any contestant having a
remaining stake can participate in the hand.
[0059] In another embodiment, the method 30 is modified such that,
after the wagering round for a question is completed in step 42, a
clue concerning the question is revealed and then another wagering
round is performed, similarly as in step 42. After the wagering
round following revelation of the clue is completed, the method 30
proceeds to step 44.
[0060] In another embodiment, the method 30 is modified, in a
manner similar to that described above for the embodiment where two
questions are revealed, such that more than two questions,
preferably eight, are revealed for a particular hand and a wagering
round is performed after each question is revealed. In such
embodiment, answers to the plurality of questions are revealed
after a wagering round for each of the questions is completed when
two or more contestants remain in the hand, and distribution of the
betting pot is based on the number of questions correctly answered,
similarly as described above for the two question embodiment. In a
further embodiment, the method 30 is modified to include the
revelation of a plurality of questions for a hand, a clue is
revealed following the presentation of each question and a wagering
round is performed after each clue is revealed, similarly as
described above.
[0061] In another embodiment of the inventive game as a live or
pre-recorded television game show, home viewers can play along with
game. For example, home viewers can answer questions by calling a
premium telephone or text number, or entering information on a
subscription only access website, and prizes or cash would be
awarded to the first home viewer(s) who correctly answer a
question.
[0062] In still another embodiment of the inventive game show, a
member of the studio audience wins prizes or money, for example,
$1,000-$10,000, by correctly answering a question during a gaming
round. The controller 14 randomly selects a member of the studio
audience from all of the members of the studio audience who
correctly respond to a question identified during the game as an
"all play" question. When the controller 14 identifies a question
as an "all play" question, the controller 14 displays multiple
choice answers on the monitor 17 and to the home viewers after the
contestants remaining in a hand have entered their answers on their
units 12. The studio audience members then have a predetermined
time, for example, ten seconds, to enter an answer on their keypads
18.
[0063] In another embodiment, home viewers of the inventive
television game show can play along with a game and answer a
selected trivia question to win cash or prizes. For example, after
the contestants remaining in a hand enter their answers to a
question on their units 12, the controller 14 displays on the
monitor 17 and to the home viewers that the question is a "home all
play" question and also multiple choice answers to the question.
The home audience then must call a premium rate telephone or text
line, or access a subscription only world wide web address, and
enter an answer within a predetermined time, for example, the
duration of an advertisement break or an intermission in the show.
The predetermined time is sufficiently short to avoid home viewers
finding an answer to the question by electronic searching, such by
using the search engine GOOGLE. The controller 14 then randomly
selects one or more of the individuals who answer the question
correctly to receive a nominal award, such as $1,000 to
$10,000.
[0064] In a further embodiment of the television game show as a
tournament, following the conclusion of the final game in the
initial or semi-final rounds, home viewers can call premium rate
telephone voting lines and nominate a contestant who did not become
a contestant for an advanced round in the tournament for a second
chance to compete as a contestant in an advanced gaming round. A
contestant who can become a second chance contestant is, for
example, a sixth contestant in a semi-final or final gaming round
of the tournament.
[0065] In a further embodiment of the television game show format
of the inventive game, the contestants in a gaming round are seated
with respective to one another around a traditional looking poker
table in a manner similar to that existing on conventional poker
tournament gaming television shows, and the controller 14
selectively displays on the monitor 17 and to home viewers behind
the scenes and at home video clips of the semi-finalist and
finalist contestants and their families and work colleagues.
[0066] In another embodiment, the television game show format of
the inventive game is played with a live, human dealer, who also
may be the host or co-host of the game show, and who asks questions
that the controller 14 displays on a monitor that is visible only
to the dealer.
[0067] In a further embodiment, the television game show format
includes one or more commentators or co-hosts who sit in a
separate, sound-proofed room or glass booth and who contribute to
the televised broadcast of the game by commenting on the game, and
reading out statistics and facts about the contestants. In
addition, the commentators or co-hosts interview contestants
eliminated from the tournament within the sound-proofed room either
during breaks in the game or during play of the game, and these
interviews are displayed on the monitor 17 and to home viewers.
Further, while the contestant is playing the game, the controller
14 displays on the monitor 17 and to home viewers an interview that
the commentators or co-hosts of the show conduct with friends and
family of a contestant.
[0068] In a further embodiment, a celebrity is the host or
commentator and a gaming round or gaming tournament is played with
selected celebrities as contestants and the winnings of the
contestants are designated for identified charities.
[0069] In another embodiment of the inventive game, a question on a
category requires as an answer the most popular response obtained
from a survey or poll. The game is played following the rules set
forth above for steps 36-50, except that step 44 is modified as
follows. In a first embodiment of step 44, if two or more
contestants have the same top answer, then another question
(playoff question) is presented and the contestants answer without
further wagering. If none of the answers provided by such
contestants is one of the top five answers of the survey for the
question, then a further question or questions is presented until
only a single contestant responds with an answer that is one of the
top five answers of the survey for the question. If more than one
contestant answers the playoff question with the same answer that
is an answer in the top five answers of the survey for the
question, then only those contestants answer a further question or
questions. Questions continue to be presented until a single
contestant remains in the hand. In a further embodiment, if two or
more contestants have the same highest answer of the five top
answers of the survey for the question, then the amount in the
betting pot is distributed evenly between or among such
contestants.
[0070] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the inventive
game includes only a single gaming round starting from step 32 of
the method 30 and terminating in step 48, such that the contestant
determined to be the winner in step 48 or 50 leaves the game with
an amount of money equal to the contestant's stake.
[0071] In an embodiment of the inventive game as a board game, the
game is played substantially in accordance with the method 30 with
the following minor modifications. In step 32, the contestants are
not selected, but instead, are those individuals who desire to play
the board game, and a minimum of two players is required for play
of the game. In addition, the contestants in the hand in step 42
initially write their answers on a card, without revealing the
answer to the other contestants, and then participate in a wagering
round.
[0072] In an embodiment of the inventive game as an online game,
the gaming system 10 including only the controller 14 provides for
play of the game by a plurality of remotely located individuals.
The individuals play the game on respective communication devices,
which preferably have the same functionalities as the gaming units
12 and are communicatively coupled to the controller 14 over
communication networks such as the Internet and other wired or
wireless networks. FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method 102 for
play of a game of knowledge including wagering as an online game in
which the controller 14 remotely controls play of the game by
various contestants over communications networks.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 4, in step 110 the controller 14
establishes a virtual table for play of the online game. The
virtual table requires a minimum number, for example, two to five,
of individuals to join the table for play of the game to commence;
requires a minimum number of contestants to remain at the table for
the game to continue; accommodates only a preset number of
contestants, for example, twelve; and has defined minimum and
maximum wagering amounts, for example, $1 to $10,000.
[0074] In step 112, individuals communicate with the controller 14
via their respective personal computers by logging onto a website
operated by the controller 14, and request to join a virtual table.
The controller 14 preferably displays on the website a plurality of
virtual tables, each having different pre-defined minimum and
maximum wagering amounts. An individual enters a request to play
the online game of knowledge including wagering at a selected one
of the displayed tables. In addition, the controller 14 display on
the monitors or like display devices of the contestants who join
the table, similarly as in the method 102, the arrangement of the
contestants at the virtual table, the current stakes of the
contestants, the betting pot, wagers, questions, answers, clues and
any other related gaming information. After the required minimum
number of contestants, or starting contestants, joins a table, step
114 is performed.
[0075] In step 114, each of the starting contestants selects at
least one different category of knowledge from a list categories
("Display List") stored at and displayed on the website by the
controller 14, and the selected categories are added to a list of
available wagering categories ("Available List"). In a preferred
embodiment, a virtual table is limited to a specialized area of
knowledge, such as sports, film, music, and the categories on the
Display List for the table are within a subset of the knowledge
area. For example, for a sports virtual table, the categories
include football, tennis, rugby, cricket, basketball, etc.
[0076] After the starting contestants select their respective
categories in step 114, in step 116 the controller 14 determines
if, in the interim, any individuals requested to join the table
150. If yes, and there is room for new contestant(s) at the table,
in step 118 the new contestant selects a category from the Display
List for inclusion in the Available List, where the Display List
does not include any categories that contestants who previously
joined the table selected for the Available List.
[0077] Following step 116 or 118, in step 119 the controller 14
arranges the contestants presently in the game around the virtual
table. When step 119 is performed for the first time for a virtual
table, the controller 14 virtually seats the contestants around the
table in the order in which the contestants chronologically joined
the table. For purposes of illustration, a virtual table 150 is
shown in FIG. 5 and the required minimum number of contestants, for
example, five contestants, named A-E, for commencement of the game
joined the table 150, where A was the first contestant to join the
table, and was followed by contestants B-E in that order. When step
119 is performed anytime after distribution of the first betting
pot for the table, any new contestant who joins the table is
positioned at the table to become the last contestant to whom the
bet is passed in a wagering round for the next hand. Referring
again to FIG. 5, if contestant A starts the betting for a first
hand, such that contestant B would start betting for the next hand
after the betting pot for the first hand is distributed, and new
contestants F and G then join the table in that order, F and G are
positioned at the table between A and B, with G adjacent to B and F
adjacent to A, such that G is the last contestant to whom the bet
for the next hand is passed and F passes the bet for in the next
hand to G.
[0078] Referring again to FIG. 4, in step 120 the contestant who
joins the table earlier than any other contestants currently at the
table and previously did not select a category from the Available
List, selects a wagering category from the Available List. The
controller 14 continuously updates the Available List to remove any
categories selected therefrom by contestants.
[0079] Then, in step 122, the contestants at the table participate
in wagering round, which preferably is of the format of step 42 of
method 30 described above. Assuming that more than one contestant
remains in the hand after the wagering round of step 122 is
concluded, in step 124 a question from the selected wagering
category is revealed. Then in step 126, the contestants remaining
in the hand, on their personal computers, for example, must within
a predetermined time, for example, about five to twenty seconds,
after the question is revealed in step 124, enter an answer to the
question and also a minimum and maximum bet range.
[0080] In step 128, the controller 14 ranks the contestants in the
hand in lowest to highest rank order based on maximum bet, and then
assigns the contestants, starting from the contestant with the
lowest maximum bet, successively in order to a first group and then
to a second group. Depending on whether there is an even or odd
number of contestants in the hand, each group has an equal number
of contestants, or the second group has one more contestant than
the first group, respectively. If the maximum bet of a contestant
in the first group is lower than the lowest minimum bet of a
contestant in the second group, that contestant in the first group
cannot continue to play the hand and would lose the amount entered
into the pot for the hand, unless none of the contestants
ultimately remaining in the hand correctly answers the question.
The bet for the hand is the lowest maximum bet of the contestants
remaining in the hand. Similarly as in step 44 of the method 30,
the controller 14 in step 128 distributes the pot to the
contestant(s) remaining in the hand who answer the question
correctly, or alternatively rolls the pot over into the next hand
if no one in the hand answers the question correctly. If the pot is
rolled over in step 128, step 124 of the method 102 is performed
and, if not, step 134 is performed.
[0081] For example, referring to FIG. 5, if contestants A-E are in
a hand and at step 126 they enter the minimum and maximum bets of
$150 and $250; $400 and $700; $100 and $200; $600 and $900; and
$500 and $1200, respectively, then the bet would be $700 and
contestants A and B could not continue to play the hand and would
lose the amount they wagered, unless no other contestant wins the
hand. If none of the contestants remaining in the hand correctly
answers the question, then the pot carries over to the next hand,
as in the method 30.
[0082] In one embodiment, if in step 128 the pot rolls over to the
next hand, an individual who requested to join the table cannot
join that table until after the rollover pot is distributed to a
contestant already at the table. A contestant at a table is
eligible to participate in a rollover pot only if he (i) wagered
during the previous hand; or (ii) remained in the previous hand
until the answer to the question had been revealed.
[0083] Following step 128 when the pot does not roll over, the
controller 14 in step 134 determines whether to continue the game.
For example, if a contestant at the table 150 has not selected a
wagering category from the available wagering categories, the game
continues and step 116 is performed. Alternatively, whether the
game continues is based on whether a predetermined number of hands
have been played, or betting pots have been distributed at the
table, or play at the table has continued for a predefined time
after which the play of the game ceases and any contestants at the
table at that time leave the game with their current stake.
[0084] In another embodiment of the method 102, play of the game
ceases in step 134, based on any preset criteria set by the
controller 14 and displayed on the website to the contestants, and
the method 102 proceeds to step 136 where the controller 14
determines the contestant with the highest stake at the table as
the winner of the table. In the event of a tie in step 136, a tie
breaker round is played in step 138, similarly as in step 50 of the
method 30.
[0085] In another embodiment of the method 102, even if all of the
contestants at the table have selected a category from the
Available List, the game continues in step 116 for a predetermined
time or for as long as categories are in the Available List.
Further, in the event the Available List is empty, the controller
14 repopulates the Available List with the categories that the
contestants presently at the table have previously selected.
[0086] In another embodiment, a contestant can decided to leave the
table (game) with his current stake in step 134. When a contestant
leaves the game, any wagering category added to the Available List
by such contestant, and still remaining on the Available List, is
removed.
[0087] Referring again to FIG. 4, following step 136 or 138, in
step 140 the winning contestant decides whether to participate in
an advanced gaming round, such as in a Let It Ride or Double or
Quits round as described above for the method 30.
[0088] In a preferred embodiment of the method 102, the winning
contestant in step 140 participates in a final Double or Quits game
where the contestant answers one or more question(s), with or
without clues, derived from a random category or one of the
contestant's selected categories, and can double, treble or
quadruple his current stake. In a preferred embodiment, the
questions are revealed with multiple choice answers.
[0089] In a further embodiment of the method 102, the advance
gaming round played in step 140 is similar to the Let It Ride round
of step 52 of the method 30, and questions of varying difficulty
and corresponding betting odds are displayed for each category from
which the contestant can select. In one embodiment, during play of
the round in step 140, the contestant selects up to 3 questions
without clues from a category, where the category any random
category or one the contestant previously selected when playing the
game at the table, and where the questions include odds, for
example, of 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, 6-1, 7-1, 8-1, 9-1, and 10-1, the
more difficult questions having greater odds.
[0090] In a preferred embodiment of the method 102, a wagering
round similar to the wagering round 122 is performed between step
119 and 120.
[0091] In a further embodiment of the method 102, a hand includes
multiple questions from a selected wagering category, with or
without the revelation of a clue for each question, and a wagering
round is performed after a question alone or with a clue is
revealed, similarly as described above for the modified embodiment
of the method 30. When multiple questions are presented in a hand,
the multiple questions may or may not have related answers.
[0092] In another embodiment of the method 102, in step 124 a
question is revealed with multiple choice answers from which
contestant needs to choose.
[0093] In a further embodiment of the method 102, the questions
relate to answers obtained from a survey of the general public and
a contestant wins a hand by having the most popular answer, or an
answer that is more popular than the answer provided by another
contestant in the hand. In the event more than one contestant in
the hand supplies the most popular answer, the pot is distributed
between or among these contestants. Also, in the event none of the
contestants in the hand supply an answer included in the survey
results for the question, the pot rolls over and step 124 is
performed, preferably with another survey question.
[0094] In another embodiment, the controller 14 translates play of
the online game according to the method 102 into one of a plurality
of languages selected by a contestant when joining the virtual
table for play of the game.
[0095] Further, the controller 14 enters into arrangements for
commercial sponsorship of virtual tables and displays sponsorship
information on the virtual table displayed on the personal computer
gaming units of the contestants who join the virtual table.
[0096] In an embodiment of the inventive game played as a casino
game, the gaming system 10 including the controller 14, the gaming
units 12, the monitor 17 and the camera 25 provides for play of the
game. Contestants play the casino game on respective gaming units
12, which are arranged around a physical table having a
configuration similar to, for example, the table 100. The table on
which the casino game is played is located in a secure, restricted
access area of a casino, where access to the area is limited to
contestants and select, authorized individuals. In a preferred
embodiment, the casino gaming table is in a sound-proofed room at
least partially encircled by one way mirrored glass, or positioned
a sufficient distance from a spectator area to avoid spectators
from prompting the contestants.
[0097] Play of the inventive as a casino game substantially follows
the format of the online game discussed above in connection with
the method 102, with the following differences and additions. The
controller 14 is associated with a plurality of physical tables,
each having wagering ranges and restrictions, such as a maximum bet
limit, and minimum and maximum contestants for play. For each
table, the controller 14 displays the Display List and the
Available List on the units 12 at the table, or a monitor 17
visible to all of the contestants at the table. In addition, step
126 is modified such that when the contestant in a hand supply an
answer, a wagering round is performed similar to the format
conventional in the game of poker.
[0098] In an alternative embodiment of the casino game, a croupier
or dealer operates a gaming unit 12, which is the only gaming unit
at the table. The controller 14 displays gaming information, such
as categories and questions, in real time on the unit 12, and the
dealer reads aloud the displayed information and also enters onto
the unit 12 any data, such as answers, wagers, category selections,
etc., supplied by the contestants at the table for play of the
game.
[0099] In a preferred embodiment of the casino game, spectators for
any casino game table are provided with gaming units 12 coupled to
the controller 14, and can wager in the same manner as the
contestants at the table which the spectators are observing.
Alternatively, the controller 14 provides that the spectators can,
using their units 12, wager on the success or failure of any
contestant playing at a table.
[0100] In a preferred embodiment of the casino game, the controller
14 is located within a casino and supplies new questions to the
tables in the casino from a remotely located, secure central or
dedicated server with which the controller 14 is communicatively
coupled. After a question from a category is revealed during any
game played at a table in a casino, the question is replaced with
another question from the same category. The revealed question is
either deleted forever from the server or tagged at the server for
supply at a much later date either to a different casino also
having tables on which the inventive game is played or to the same
casino. In a preferred embodiment, any revealed question is not
revealed again at any casino for a minimum of twenty-four
months
[0101] In another embodiment of the casino game, the casino game is
in the format of a tournament in which contestants compete against
one another in preliminary gaming rounds, similarly as discussed in
connection with the method 30. Each preliminary gaming round is
played for a pre-determined time or until a single contestant
accumulates all or a substantial fraction of the sum of the
starting stakes for the contestants, where the starting stake of
each of the contestants is the same as in the method 30. Although
in this embodiment a contestant can wager only a fixed amount at
the table, a contestant can enter into side betting arrangements
with other contestants in the event his stake dwindles, and the
controller 14 facilitates such betting arrangements on the unit 12.
A predetermined number of contestants from a preliminary gaming
round, for example, one, two or three per table, qualify for an
advanced gaming round of the tournament. In one embodiment, the
controller 14 provides a contestant, who did not qualify for an
advanced gaming round in a preliminary gaming round, with an option
to purchase (buy-in) an opportunity to become a contestants at a
table at which an advanced gaming round is played. The tournament
preferably follows the format of the tournament described in
connection with the method 30 or variations thereof.
[0102] Advantageously, the inventive game of knowledge combines
intellectual intelligence or knowledge and emotional intelligence,
i.e., knowing how to read someone's body language or thoughts, into
a game played in accordance with the traditional wagering format of
the game of poker, and substitutes knowledge of, for example,
trivia, for the part of the game of poker corresponding to
obtaining the best hand of cards. The portion of the game of poker
associated with discarding cards and obtaining new cards to obtain
the best hand of cards is often the most complicated part of the
game of poker for a novice poker player. The inventive game
includes the wagering elements of the game of poker but eliminates
the difficult portion, thereby making the inventive game readily
accessible and desirable to a greater portion of the general
public. The wagering portion of the inventive game is relatively
easy to learn, and the element associated with bettering one's hand
of cards by deciding whether to discard some of the cards already
dealt for the hand and draw replacement cards from a deck, which
many individuals may be unfamiliar with and otherwise find
disfavorable because of the element of luck, is absent from the
inventive game.
[0103] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without
departing from the principles of the invention.
* * * * *