Trivia game and method of play

Abstract

A method of playing a trivia game includes the step of registering a plurality of players to participate in the trivia game. Then, providing a clue to the plurality of players and receiving an answer from each player participating in the trivia game. Next, eliminating players associated with an incorrect answer and allowing players associated with a correct answer to continue participating in the trivia game. The steps of providing the clue, receiving the answer and eliminating players are repeated until one of only one player who provided correct answers remains before the trivia game ended, at least one player who provided correct answers remains when the trivia game ended and all registered players have been eliminated before the trivia game ended.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said method includes the additional step of providing a possible answer to said clue provided in step (f). 
     
     
         3 . The method, according to  claim 2 , wherein said step of providing said possible answer includes the step of randomly selecting, by one of a program host and said network computer, one of said plurality of players and the step of announcing said possible answer. 
     
     
         4 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said method further includes the step of providing three possible answers after providing said clue in step (f) and wherein one of said three possible answers is a correct answer. 
     
     
         5 . The method, according to  claim 4 , wherein said answer received in step (g) is any one of said three possible answers. 
     
     
         6 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said method further includes the step of providing a preselected time interval for receiving said answer in step (g) after providing said clue in step (f). 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said trivia games includes a predetermined plurality of game levels. 
     
     
         9 . The method, according to  claim 8 , wherein each subsequent game level is characterized by progressively increasing a difficulty of said clue provided in step (f). 
     
     
         10 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said clue provided in step (f) is selected from a category being one of history, science, geography, events, current events, art, literature, music, entertainment, sports, health, people and various combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of players participating in said trivia game are located in a production studio. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said each player is located in a distinct remote location from one another, wherein said clue is provided in step (f) by at least one of a radio, phone, TV and Internet owned by said each player, and wherein said answer received in step (g) is by way of at least one of said phone, said mobile communication device and said Internet owned by said each player. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said method further includes the step of promoting at least one sponsor of said trivia game. 
     
     
         17 . A method of playing a trivia game, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) announcing, by at least one of radio, phone, TV and Internet, each of a registration period and a predetermined telephone number to members of general public;   (b) dialing, by said members of said general public by way of said at least one of a phone, computer, mobile communication device and Internet, said predetermined telephone number announced in step (a);   (c) registering a plurality of players from said members of said general public, dialing said predetermined telephone number to participate in said trivia game;   (d) establishing a connection between each of said plurality of players registered in step (c) and a network computer;   (e) saving each distinct telephone number identifying said each of said plurality of players registered in step (c) to a database;   (f) providing a clue to said plurality of players;   (g) receiving, at said network computer by way of said connection, a numeric value representing an answer from said each player participating in said trivia game;   (h) awarding, at said network computer, a score to each answer;   (j) saving said score awarded in step (h) to said database; and   (i) repeating steps (f) through (j) until said trivia games ends.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method, according to  claim 24  wherein said method further includes the step of declaring at least one winner who has a highest score when said trivia game ends. 
     
     
         20 . A method of solving a crossword puzzle, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) registering a plurality of players to participate in solving said crossword puzzle;   (b) providing a crossword puzzle answer grid having a plurality of interconnected cells arranged in a row and a column manner, wherein certain cells in a first portion of said plurality of cells are blackened, wherein certain cells in a second portion of said predetermined plurality of cell are designated to contain one specific letter of an alphabet, and wherein selected cells in said second portion are distinctly and sequentially numbered for aiding in solving said crossword puzzle;   (c) randomly selecting one player from said plurality of players participating in solving said crossword puzzle;   (d) providing a clue in combination with a numbered cell and one of a row and a column orientation of said clue to said one player randomly selected in step (c);   (e) receiving an answer from said one player randomly selected in step (c);   (f) soliciting remaining participating players to agree or disagree with said answer received from said one player in step (e);   (g) receiving an answer from said remaining players participating in solving said crossword puzzle;   (h) continuing solving said crossword puzzle by way of one of awarding a score to said answer received in step (g) and eliminating players associated with an incorrect answer received in step (g); and   (i) repeating steps (c) through (h) until one of said crossword puzzle is solved, a predetermined time limit has expired and only one player remains prior to one of said crossword puzzle being solved and said predetermined time limit being expired.   
     
     
         21 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said step of registering said plurality of players includes the step of announcing a preselected period of time. 
     
     
         22 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said step of registering said plurality of players includes the step of announcing a predetermined maximum number of players allowed to register. 
     
     
         23 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said step of registering said plurality of players includes the step of periodically announcing at least one of a remaining time and remaining number of players to be registered 
     
     
         24 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said method includes the step of accumulating scores awarded to said each player. 
     
     
         25 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein step (i) includes the step of completing all game levels or the step of exceeding allotted game time.