Real-money online multi-player trivia system, methods of operation, and storage medium

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and storage medium for a real-money online multi-player trivia system which allows users to compete, via a computer network, in one or more simultaneous trivia style games with a plurality of questions while wagering real and/or play money. The trivia style games can be either a single trivia game between multiple players or a tournament style game with a plurality of single games linked together. A trivia style game may allow betting before a question is delivered, after a question is delivered, or after a question is answered. Further, the amount of a player's wager may be withheld from the other players and/or whether the player answered a question correctly or incorrectly.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 908,225 filed Mar. 27, 2007.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention pertains generally to trivia games and, more particularly, to a real-money online multi-player trivia game.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Trivia games are well known as a form of entertainment. Generally, the trivia game consists of a question being presented to participants and then the first participant with the correct answer wins that round. The rounds progress for some pre-set length and the scores are tallied to determine the overall winner.[0004]The most common and well known of these trivia style games are “Trivial Pursuit” and “Jeopardy.” Trivial Pursuit is a board game where participants gather at a pre-determined location and roll a die to determine what category of question will be asked. There are about six categories within any game; however, there are several different versions of the g...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In one aspect of the present invention, multiple players compete against one another in a trivia style game of skill while wagering either fun or real money. The trivia style game could be either a single game made up of one or more questions or a tournament style game with one or more single games linked together.

Problems solved by technology

The obvious limitations of this game are all participants must be in a reasonable vicinity of each other—for example, the same room—and a roll of the die determines the category of the question.

The obvious problem with both of these is they require the participants to assemble at a predetermined time and location.

In addition, though Jeopardy allows for some time of wagering, the wagered amount is, at least theoretically, tied to the difficulty of the question thereby not allowing a participant to wager different amounts of money for different categories or even particular questions.

Also, there is no means to either “win” money from other players or compensate the parties running the trivia game.

A severe limitation of the prior art is its inability to allow the user to play multiple games at the same time within the same graphical user interface (“GUI”).

Additionally, the prior art does not disclose a predictive betting method.

Yet another limitation of the prior art is the lack of a customer retention mechanism.

Finally, the prior art fails to disclose both fun and real money wagering.

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