Comparative trivia game
The comparative trivia game requires players to make a quantitative judgment in selecting one of a series of responses at each turn of play. A plurality of question sets are provided, with each question set having a plurality of questions that may be correctly answered with a numerical product. The responses are developed by multiplying each of the numerical factoids of the questions by a multiplier factor to arrive at an arithmetical product. The object is to choose the response corresponding to the highest product. The provision of questions resulting in numerical responses allows the responses to be ranked numerically, with fewer points awarded for the selection of a numerically lower response. The questions may be worded such that the responses are monetary values, or non-monetary arithmetical values or numbers. Questions in each set may be selected randomly, or may have a common subject area.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to board games, including both those played using a physical apparatus and those played using an electronic or computerized board, and more particularly to a comparative trivia game wherein multiple numerical choices are provided for each question, each choice being the product of a numerical factoid and a multiplier.
2. Description of the Related Art
Innumerable board games and computer games have been developed in the past, with one subset of such games having a question and answer format, e.g., Trivial Pursuit®. In such games, contestants are required to provide correct responses to the questions of the game, in order to advance. The questions involved in such games are typically non-numerical, e.g., the nickname of a celebrity, the location of some historical or other event, knowledge of terminology in a specialized field or profession, etc. While the correct responses to such questions may be objective, it is not possible to make any quantitative comparison between correct and incorrect answers. Thus, it is difficult, if not impossible, in such games to provide some intermediate award of points for a “second-best” response, if the contestant or player does not choose the correct response.
Thus, a comparative trivia game solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe comparative trivia game includes a plurality of question sets, with each question set having a series of questions that may be correctly answered by numerical factoids as the responses. The responses are developed by multiplying each of the numerical factoids of the questions by a multiplier factor to arrive at an arithmetical product. The object is to choose the response corresponding to the highest product.
An extremely simple example of the above might be (A) the product of ten times the number of letters in the English alphabet, compared to (B) five times the number of states in the U.S. and (C) two times the number of feet in fifty fathoms. Thus, the correct response would be (C), as one fathom equals six feet, with fifty fathoms being equal to three hundred feet and twice that resulting in a total of six hundred. Response (A) will be seen to equal five hundred and twenty, while response (B) is equal to five hundred. In accordance with the most preferred rules of the game, a player responding with response (C) in the above example would receive a maximum number of points for that turn, while a player responding with answer (B), i.e., the lowest numerical total, would receive no points. However, a player responding with the second highest answer, i.e., answer (A), would receive an intermediate number of points. Thus, a player may gain some score even if he or she does not choose the optimum answer.
The game may also include factors and responses equated to monetary values, e.g., ten dollars for each foot of height of the Washington Monument, etc., with players seeking to choose the highest resulting monetary total. Score may be kept with simulated currency, particularly in the case of electronic or computerized play, or by tracking the point values awarded for the answers of each player during the course of play. The latter means of scoring may be used with either computerized and electronic play or by means of a physical game board, but is particularly well suited for use with a game board.
A series of questions may be provided on each of a series of cards used in the game, or may alternatively be provided by electronic or computer means. The subject areas of the questions may be randomly selected for each card or question set, or may be of related subject matter (e.g., science, sports, etc.). At least one of the cards may allow the player drawing such a card to change the accrued point totals of that player, and others, to that point in the game, e.g., to “steal” points from one or more other players and award those “stolen” points to himself or herself and/or to other players in the game. A predetermined time limit may be set for a player to select the desired response during his or her turn of play. The winner of the game may be determined by the first player to reach a predetermined point total or score, by the player leading at the end of a predetermined period of time, or other means as desired. It should be noted that the term “player” as used herein, includes both individuals and teams formed of two or more members.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSThe comparative trivia game provides a series of questions at each turn, with each of the questions having a numerical answer. The responding player selects the response he or she believes to have the highest numerical value, with points awarded to the player according to the correctness of his or her response.
All of the questions of the sets 10, 20, and 30, as well as all others used in the present game, may be answered by a numerical response or factoid. The numerical responses or factoids for questions 12a through 12c are respectively indicated as 14a through 14c for question set 10, 24a through 24c for question set 20, and 34a through 34c for question set 30, and are shown in the “Data” column in each question set. Questions relating to quantities, dates, times, weights, and any other numerical factoids, are appropriate for use in the game.
Each of the questions further includes a numerical or monetary multiplier, respectively 16a through 16c for the question set 10, 26a through 26c for the question set 20, and 36a through 36c for the question set 30. These multipliers are used to multiply the respective factoid of the question to arrive at an arithmetical product, with the multipliers selected to result in plausible but different arithmetical products or responses for each question in a set. The product may be in the form of a monetary amount where the multipliers are shown as monetary amounts, as shown in the sets 10, 20, and 30 of
The question sets 10, 20, and 30 of
The responding player need not know the exact answer to any or all of the questions. Rather, he or she need only make an educated assessment of the arithmetical product of the numerical factoid and its multiplier, in order to deduce which of the choices will result in the highest arithmetical product. The selection of the response resulting in the highest arithmetical product results in the greatest number of points being awarded to the responding player. If the player were to choose the response having the second highest product of the set, then he or she would still receive some points, but not as many as provided for the response having the highest arithmetic product. Selection of the response having the lowest product results in no points for the responding player.
Questions 12a through 12c of the first question set 10 of
In the cases of the question sets 10, 20, and 30 of
Also, while the exemplary question sets 10, 20, and 30 each illustrate three questions, it will be seen that as few as two questions or more than three questions may be provided in each set. Alternative configurations for each set may be provided as well, with the raw factoids of the data columns and the arithmetical products of the value columns being placed upon the reverse sides of the cards (where physical cards are used) or otherwise removed from view when the questions are displayed. In this manner, the acting or responding player may read the questions for himself or herself, rather than relying upon another player or participant to do so.
It will also be noted that the question sets 40, 50, and 60 of
Additional rules may be provided as desired to add further interest to the game.
The physical game board may be flat, or may include holes or other means for positively securing player position markers thereto, somewhat in the manner of a cribbage board or the like. A series of player position markers 98a through 98f are shown at various locations along each of the corresponding player rows 92a through 92f, in an exemplary situation during the course of play. The player position markers are uniquely numbered so that players may each recognize their own position marker during the course of the game. Each of the markers 98a through 98f may be flat or may include some means (e.g., a peg, etc.) to engage a mating feature for each position 94 on the board. It will be seen that the game board or scoreboard 90 does not include any information, instructions or the like that relate to or affect the play of the game. Rather, the board 90 is a means of keeping track of the scores of the players during the course of play, again somewhat in the manner of a cribbage board.
The second column 104 lists the choices, e.g., A, B, or C, for the questions in each set. Thus, a player questioning the accuracy of the numerical factoid for question B on card or set 1, need only locate that line in the reference source to find that specific question. As few as two such choices or questions may be provided with each card or set, i.e., only questions A and B, or alternatively a greater number of questions may be provided in each card or set as desired.
The third column 106 includes a brief description of the subject matter of each question, with the fourth column 108 having corresponding key words for the subject area and question. The questions on any given card or set may be randomized with different categories or subject matters, or the questions may be grouped in each set or card to have like subject matters, if so desired.
The fifth column 110 contains all of the questions of the cards or sets used in the comparative trivia game. A player knowing the number of the card or set and the specific question being challenged, i.e., question A, B, or C, may easily look up the specific question by locating the card number in the first column 102 and the question or choice letter in the second column 104, and verifying that the corresponding question in the fifth column 110 is identical to the challenged question of the card or set.
The sixth column 112 of the reference source 100, i.e., the first or leftmost column in
It could be that there may still be some doubt after checking a question and its numerical factoid, multiplier, and arithmetic product or value as described above. Accordingly, a series of authoritative sources is provided for each question in the ninth column 118, i.e., the fourth column of
The cards or question sets, e.g., cards or sets 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 respectively of
If the player has successfully chosen the response corresponding to the highest value or arithmetical product of the questions in the set, he or she is awarded the maximum number of points for that turn. If the player does not choose the highest scoring response, but chooses the next highest response, that player is awarded with some lesser number of points. In the exemplary game of the present disclosure, a maximum score per turn is five points, with two points awarded to a player choosing the second highest or best response in a turn of play. No points are awarded for a player choosing the lowest value or arithmetical product of the set. The above point awards are arbitrary, and may be adjusted as desired.
Additional cards (or representations thereof, for computer play) may be included with the question cards or sets of the game, if so desired. For example, one or more “Steal Points” cards, e.g., the card 70 of
Accrued points for each of the players are recorded or tracked using the game board 90 of
The end of the game may be determined in various ways, as desired. Preferably, the game continues until one of the players reaches a predetermined number of total points, such as the end of the game board or scoreboard 90, generally as indicated by the eighth step 134 of
Accordingly, the comparative trivia game in its various embodiments provides a challenge to players by requiring them to compare numerical values for trivia questions that can be answered numerically, e.g., dates, quantities, times, etc. The provision of a lesser number of points for second-best responses adds a factor that allows players to accrue points even when their answers are not optimal. The result is a game that is more likely to hold the interest of less competitive persons, as the comparative nature of the game does not require an absolute single response in order to gain points, as in many other trivia games.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A method of playing a comparative trivia game, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of questions, each of the questions having a response including a numerical factoid;
- (b) grouping the questions into a plurality of sets;
- (c) determining a numerical multiplier for the numerical factoid of each of the questions;
- (d) valuing the numerical multipliers for the questions in each of the sets to provide a plausibly correct numerical response for each of the questions in a set;
- (e) multiplying the numerical factoid of each of the questions by its numerical multiplier to arrive at an arithmetical product forming a numerical response;
- (f) assigning a highest number of points to the numerical response having the highest arithmetical product in each set;
- (g) assigning a second highest number of points to the numerical response having the second highest arithmetical product in each set;
- (h) concealing the arithmetical product of each of the questions, from the players;
- (i) comparing the questions of one of the sets with one another by each player in turn, and responding accordingly with a numerical response of apparent highest arithmetical product;
- (j) awarding points to players in accordance with their responses to the questions, corresponding arithmetical products, and points; and
- (k) tracking the points accrued by each of the players to determine the winner of the game.
2. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
- (a) randomly assigning one of the players to reallocate some of the points accrued by at least some of the players; and
- (b) reallocating at least some of the points according to the desires of the assigned player.
3. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 1, further comprising the step of setting a predetermined time limit for each response by a player.
4. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
- (a) assigning a monetary value to the numerical factoid of each of the questions;
- (b) comparing the monetary value of each of the questions of one of the sets at each turn of play; and
- (c) responding accordingly with a response of apparent highest monetary value.
5. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of mutually different subject areas for the questions; and
- (b) limiting the questions in each one of the sets to a single one of the subject areas.
6. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a reference source for each of the questions; and
- (b) using the reference source as required for verification of the numerical factoids of the questions.
7. A method of playing a comparative trivia game, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of questions, each of the questions having a response comprising a numerical factoid;
- (b) determining a numerical multiplier for the numerical factoid of each of the questions;
- (c) multiplying the numerical factoid of each of the questions by its numerical multiplier to arrive at an arithmetical product comprising a numerical response;
- (d) assigning a highest number of points to the response having the highest numerical product;
- (e) assigning a second highest number of points to the response having the second highest arithmetical product;
- (f) concealing the arithmetical product of each of the questions, from the players;
- (g) comparing some of the questions with one another by each player in turn, and responding accordingly with a numerical response of apparent highest arithmetical product;
- (h) awarding points to players in accordance with their responses to the questions, and corresponding arithmetical products and points;
- (i) reallocating at least some of the points between at least some of the players; and
- (j) tracking the points accrued by each of the players to determine the winner of the game.
8. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:
- (a) grouping the questions into a plurality of sets; and
- (b) valuing the numerical multipliers for the questions in each of the sets to provide a plausibly correct numerical response for each of the questions in a set.
9. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 7, further comprising the step of setting a predetermined time limit for each response by a player.
10. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:
- (a) assigning a monetary value to the numerical response of each of the questions;
- (b) comparing the monetary value of each of the questions of one of the sets, at each turn of play; and
- (c) responding accordingly with a response of apparent highest monetary value.
11. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of mutually different subject areas for the questions; and
- (b) limiting the questions in each one of the sets to a single one of the subject areas.
12. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a reference source for each of the questions; and
- (b) using the reference source as required for verification of the numerical factoids of the questions.
13. A comparative trivia game apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of sets of question cards, each of the sets containing a plurality of questions thereon, each of the questions having a correct response comprising a numerical factoid, a multiplier, and an arithmetical product, each of the arithmetical products in each of the sets differing quantitatively from one another;
- a game board having a plurality of player rows thereon, each of the rows including a plurality of playing positions; and
- a plurality of player position markers corresponding in number to the lo number of player rows of the game board.
14. A method of playing a comparative trivia game using the apparatus of claim 13, comprising the steps of:
- (a) assigning a highest number of points to the response having the highest arithmetical product in each set;
- (b) assigning a second highest number of points to the response having the second highest arithmetical product in each set;
- (c) concealing the arithmetical product of each of the questions, from the players;
- (d) comparing the questions of one of the sets with one another by each player in turn, and responding accordingly with a numerical response of apparent highest arithmetical product;
- (e) awarding points to players in accordance with their responses to the questions, and corresponding arithmetical products and points; and
- (f) tracking the points accrued by each of the players to determine the winner of the game.
15. The method of playing a comparative trivia game according to claim 14, comprising the steps of:
- (a) randomly assigning one of the players to reallocate some of the points accrued by at least some of the players; and
- (b) reallocating at least some of the points according to the desires of the assigned player.
16. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 14, further comprising the step of setting a predetermined time limit for each response by a player.
17. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
- (a) assigning a monetary value to the numerical response of each of the questions;
- (b) comparing the monetary value of each of the questions of one of the sets, at each turn of play; and
- (c) responding accordingly with a response of apparent highest monetary value.
18. The method of playing the comparative trivia game according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of mutually different subject areas for the questions; and
- (b) limiting the questions in each one of the sets to a single one of the subject areas.
19. The comparative trivia game apparatus according to claim 13, further including a reference source.
20. A method of playing the comparative trivia game using the apparatus of claim 19, further comprising the step of utilizing the reference source for verification of the numerical response of the questions.
Type: Application
Filed: May 28, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 2, 2010
Inventor: Walter J. Kirby (Saratoga Springs, NY)
Application Number: 12/453,989
International Classification: A63F 9/18 (20060101);