Multi-level marketing game

Abstract

A game that teaches network marketing concepts includes a game board, a plurality of game pieces, a plurality of game cards and a success determination device. At least one of the plurality of game cards allows an active one of a plurality of players to build an associated business by adding distributors. The success determination device is used to determine the number of distributors added when an appropriate one of the game cards is selected.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A game for teaching network marketing concepts, the game comprising: 
 a game board including a plurality of game piece locations;    a plurality of game pieces each representing one of a plurality of players, wherein each of the game pieces are located at one of the game piece locations;    a plurality of game cards, wherein at least one of the game cards allows an active one of the players to build a simulated business by adding distributors; and    a success determination device for determining a number of distributors added when an appropriate one of the game cards is selected.    
     
     
         2 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the game cards allows the active one of the players to build the simulated business by selling at least one product, and wherein the success determination device determines a number of the at least one product sold when an appropriate one of the game cards is selected.  
     
     
         3 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the game cards allows the active one of the players to build the simulated business by selling at least one service, and wherein the success determination device determines a number of the at least one service sold when an appropriate one of the game cards is selected.  
     
     
         4 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the game cards allows the active one of the players to build the simulated business by selling at least one of a product and service, and wherein the success determination device determines a number of the at least one product and service sold when an appropriate one of the game cards is selected.  
     
     
         5 . The game of  claim 4 , wherein the game cards are activity cards.  
     
     
         6 . The game of  claim 5 , further including: 
 a plurality of marketing cards, wherein at least one of the marketing cards allows the active one of the players to build the simulated business through simulated selling of the at least one product and service, and wherein the success determination device includes a card selection device, the card selection device indicating whether the active one of the players is allowed to select one of the activity cards or one of the marketing cards, and where the success determination device determines the number of distributors added when an appropriate one of the activity cards is selected and a number of the at least one product and service sold when an appropriate one of the marketing cards is selected.    
     
     
         7 . The game of  claim 6 , further including: 
 a worksheet for each of the players, the worksheet providing a plurality of blanks in which one of the players enters information received from the success determination device.    
     
     
         8 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated business includes the actual marketing of the game to at least one of the players for profit.  
     
     
         9 . A game for teaching network marketing concepts, the game comprising: 
 a game board including a plurality of game piece locations;    a plurality of game pieces each representing one of a plurality of players, wherein each of the game pieces are located at one of game piece locations;    a plurality of activity cards, wherein at least one of the activity cards allows an active one of the players to build a simulated business by adding distributors;    a plurality of marketing cards, wherein at least one of the marketing cards allows the active one of the players to build the simulated business through simulated selling of at least one product and service;    a card selection device, the card selection device indicating whether the active one of the players is allowed to select one of the activity cards or one of the marketing cards; and    a success determination device for determining one of a number of the distributors added when an appropriate one of the activity cards is selected and a number of the at least one product and service sold when an appropriate one of the marketing cards is selected.    
     
     
         10 . The game of  claim 9 , further including: 
 a worksheet for each of the players, the worksheet providing a plurality of blanks in which one of the players enters information received from the success determination device.    
     
     
         11 . The game of  claim 9 , wherein the simulated business includes the actual marketing of the game to at least one of the players for profit.  
     
     
         12 . A game for teaching network marketing concepts, the game comprising: 
 a game board including a plurality of game piece locations;    a plurality of game pieces each representing one of a plurality of players, wherein each of the game pieces are located at one of the game piece locations;    a plurality of game cards, wherein at least one of the game cards allows an active one of the players to build an associated business by adding distributors; and    a success determination device for determining a number of distributors added when an appropriate one of the game cards is selected, wherein the success determination device includes a spinner with a segmented multi-color base with associated numerals for each of the segments of the base.    
     
     
         13 . The game of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the game cards allows the active one of the players to build the simulated business by selling at least one product, and wherein the success determination device determines a number of the at least one product sold when an appropriate one of the game cards is selected.  
     
     
         14 . The game of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the game cards allows the active one of the players to build the simulated business by selling at least one service, and wherein the success determination device determines a number of the at least one service sold when an appropriate one of the game cards is selected.  
     
     
         15 . The game of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the game cards allows the active one of the players to build the simulated business by selling at least one of a product and service, and wherein the success determination device determines a number of the at least one product and service sold when an appropriate one of the game cards is selected.  
     
     
         16 . The game of  claim 15 , wherein the game cards are activity cards.  
     
     
         17 . The game of  claim 16 , further including: 
 a plurality of marketing cards, wherein at least one of the marketing cards allows the active one of the players to build the simulated business through simulated selling of the at least one product and service, and wherein the success determination device includes a card selection device, the card selection device indicating whether the active one of the players is allowed to select one of the activity cards or one of the marketing cards, and where the success determination device determines one of the number of distributors added when an appropriate one of the activity cards is selected and a number of the at least one product and service sold when an appropriate one of the marketing cards is selected.    
     
     
         18 . The game of  claim 17 , further including: 
 a worksheet for each of the players, the worksheet providing a plurality of blanks in which one of the players enters information received from the success determination device.    
     
     
         19 . The game of  claim 12 , wherein the simulated business includes the actual marketing of the game to at least one of the players for profit.  
     
     
         20 . A method for teaching network marketing concepts, comprising the steps of: 
 introducing a network marketing game to a plurality of players;    assigning each of the players to a different one of a plurality of game pieces;    locating each of the game pieces at one of a plurality of game piece locations;    providing a plurality of game cards, wherein at least one of the game cards allows an active one of the players to build a simulated business by adding distributors;    actuating a success determination device to determine a number of distributors added when an appropriate one of the game cards is selected; and    marketing the game to at least one of the players for profit through play of the game.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of: 
 presenting an opportunity to at least one of the players to market the game for profit through play of the game.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of: 
 demonstrating tax benefits associated with a business activity through play of the game, wherein the tax benefits are set forth on an activity card and are based on the business activity.