Trivia game

• US 6,267,376 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brett C. Jenkins
• Original Assignee: Brett C. Jenkins
• Inventors: Jenkins, Brett C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, William M.
• Application Number:
  US09/309,912
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 273/429, 273/430, 273/431, 273/243, 273/249, 273/258
• US Class Current: 273/258
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00006 Board games played along a linear track, e.g. game of goose, snakes and ladders, along an endless track A63F3/00028 - A63F3/00157, A63F3/04 take precedence

Abstract

A trivia game includes a game board having a plurality of linear playing paths extending from one end of the board to the other, and a plurality of question and response cards each having a series of questions of differing levels of difficulty and corresponding answers. Players may select whichever level of difficulty they may wish, with advance of that player'"'"'s position marker along the corresponding playing path, depending upon the degree of difficulty of the question correctly answered. The position marker of a player incorrectly answering a question, is set back a number of positions corresponding to the degree of difficulty of the question. The game also allows players to set back the progress of an opposing player, if desired. A player correctly responding to a question at a predetermined level (e. g., the highest level) may advance his/her own position marker accordingly, or may elect to set back an opponent'"'"'s marker some number of spaces (e. g., half the number of spaces which could otherwise be advanced). The ability to set back the progress of a leading player, adds considerably to the excitement and suspense of the present game. The rules may be applied to a travel version, with score being kept conventionally (paper or and pencil, etc.), with points being added and subtracted according to the rules of play. The present game could be applied to virtually any subject matter, but is particularly well suited for television trivia, especially current and/or retired situation comedies.

Claims

1. A method of playing a board game, comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a game board having a plurality of parallel, linear playing paths thereon extending from a common starting edge of the board to the opposite common finishing edge, with each of the playing paths divided into an equal number of positions;

(b) further providing a plurality of question and response cards, with each of the cards including at least a plurality of questions of differing levels of difficulty and answers corresponding to the questions;

(c) selecting at least one first and at least one second player, and determining an order of play among the players;

(d) randomly selecting a question and response card by the first player, and reading at least the differing levels of difficulty to the second player;

(e) selecting the level of difficulty of the question to be asked of the second player, by the second player;

(f) asking a question of the second player by the first player, corresponding to the level of difficulty selected by the second player;

(g) moving the second player position marker forward or the position marker of an opponent backward a number of spaces according to a correct response to the question and level of difficulty of the question, or moving the second player position marker backward a number of spaces according to an incorrect response to the question and level of difficulty of the question;

(h) having the first player take a turn in the same manner described for the second player; and

(i) continuing in the above described manner until one of the players reaches the finishing edge of the game board.

2. The method of playing a board game according to claim 1, including the step of differentiating the playing paths on the game board by color.

3. The method of playing a board game according to claim 1, including the step of including the subject matter of the questions and responses on the playing positions of the game board.

4. The method of playing a board game according to claim 1, including the step of providing at least twenty different playing positions along each of the playing paths of the game board.

5. The method of playing a board game according to claim 1, including the step of providing at least four different questions and corresponding responses on each of the question and response cards.

6. The method of playing a board game according to claim 1, including the steps of:

(a) providing opposite first and second faces for each of the question and response cards; and

(b) placing the questions on the first face of each of the cards, and placing the corresponding responses on the opposite second face of a corresponding one of each of the cards.

7. The method of playing a board game according to claim 1, including the step of formulating the questions and corresponding responses to relate to television situation comedy programs.

8. The method of playing a board game according to claim 7, including the steps of:

(a) placing the name of a television show on at least some of playing positions of the game board; and

(b) formulating the questions and corresponding responses of the question and response cards to correspond with the names of the television shows placed on the playing positions of the game board.

9. The method of playing a board game according to claim 1, wherein the step of having a player select the level of difficulty of the question to be asked of that player includes the step of informing the player of the specific subject of the question before having the player select the level of difficulty of the question.

10. A method of playing a trivia game, comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a plurality of question and response cards, with each of the cards including at least a plurality of questions of differing levels of difficulty and answers corresponding to the questions;

(b) further providing conventional scorekeeping means for hand recording scores of the players during the course of play of the game, including a maximum score for the game;

(c) selecting at least one first and at least one second player, and determining an order of play among the players;

(d) randomly selecting a question and response card by the first player, and reading at least the differing levels of difficulty to the second player;

(e) selecting the level of difficulty of the question to be asked of the second player, by the second player;

(f) asking a question of the second player by the first player, corresponding to the level of difficulty selected by the second player;

(g) recording a positive score for the second player or a negative score for an opposing player on the scorekeeping means according to a correct response to the question and level of difficulty of the question, or recording a negative score for the second player on the scorekeeping means according to an incorrect response to the question and level of difficulty of the question;

(h) having the first player take a turn in the same manner described for the second player; and

(i) continuing in the above described manner until one of the players reaches the maximum score for the game.

11. The method of playing a board game according to claim 10, including the step of providing at least four different questions and corresponding responses on each of the question and response cards.

12. The method of playing a board game according to claim 10, including the steps of:

(a) providing opposite first and second faces for each of the question and response cards; and

(b) placing the questions on the first face of each of the cards, and placing the corresponding responses on the opposite second face of a corresponding one of each of the cards.

13. The method of playing a board game according to claim 10, including the step of formulating the questions and corresponding responses to relate to television situation comedy programs.

14. The method of playing a board game according to claim 10, wherein the step of having a player select the level of difficulty of the question to be asked of that player includes the step of informing the player of the specific subject of the question before having the player select the level of difficulty of the question.