Play along sports game

Abstract

A game that allows fans to play along as their favorite sports teams (or individuals) compete is described. In one embodiment, fans choose to watch a particular sports game, such as a NFL professional football game, and score points themselves as the teams play. For each drive in the football game, fan(s) score points in their play along game based on the results of the drive. In another embodiment, another type of game is selected as the particular underlying game. As a game progresses, fans' point totals change based mainly on actions in the underlying game; thereby keeping fans engaged in the underlying game as it progresses while adding an additional level of play and excitement via the play-along-game. In other embodiments, additional scoring options can be added and the number of fans playing in the play along game can change as the game progresses.

1 . A play along game in which a plurality of fans play a secondary game in combination with a primary sports game being played by others, the play along game comprising the steps of:
 (A) selecting a primary sports game;   (B) assigning drive outcome options to the plurality of fans;   (C) the plurality of fans experiencing the primary sports game;   (D) the plurality of fans playing along as a drive begins in the primary sports game;   (E) ending the drive in the primary sports game;   (F) assigning a plurality of drive outcome option points to the plurality of fans;   (G) testing special options;   (H) determining if the primary sports game continues;   (I) repeating steps (B) through (I) if required; and   (J) ending the game.   
     
     
         2 . The play along game of  claim 1  wherein the step of selecting the primary sports game involves choosing a particular sports game for the plurality of fans to experience. 
     
     
         3 . The play along game of  claim 2  wherein the primary sports game is a game of American football. 
     
     
         4 . The play along game of  claim 3  wherein the drive outcome options that are assigned to the plurality of fans include at least a touchdown, a field goal, a turn-over, and a punt. 
     
     
         5 . The play along game of  claim 4  wherein the step of assigning drive outcome option points to the plurality of fans includes determining that at least one drive outcome option occurred and assigning at least one point value to the at least one of the plurality of fans who was assigned the at least one drive outcome option that occurred. 
     
     
         6 . The play along game of  claim 5  wherein the step of repeating steps (B) through (I) if required involves repeating steps (B) through (I) because it has been determined that the game continues. 
     
     
         7 . The play along game of  claim 5  wherein the step of repeating steps (B) through (I) if required involves enacting the ending the game step because it has been determined that the game does not continue. 
     
     
         8 . The play along game of  claim 1  wherein the play along game is implemented in a computer program product encoding a computer program for a computer process that executes on a computer system. 
     
     
         9 . A system for implementing a play along game in which a plurality of fans play a secondary game in combination with a primary sports game being played by others, the system comprising:
 (A) a means for selecting a primary sports game;   (B) a means for assigning drive outcome options to the plurality of fans;   (C) a means for the plurality of fans to play along as a drive begins in the primary sports game;   (D) a means for determining if the drive in the primary sports game has ended;   (E) a means for assigning a plurality of drive outcome option points to the plurality of fans based on the outcome of the drive;   (F) a means for testing special options;   (G) a means for determining if the primary sports game continues;   (H) a means for repeating steps (B) through (H) if required; and   (I) a means for ending the game.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the particular sports game is a game of American football. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the drive outcome options that are assigned to the plurality of fans include at least a touchdown, a field goal, a turn-over, and a punt. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the means for assigning drive outcome option points to the plurality of fans includes determining that at least one drive outcome option occurred and assigning at least one point value to the at least one of the plurality of fans who was assigned the at least one drive outcome option that occurred. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the means for repeating steps (B) through (H) if required involves repeating steps (B) through (H) because it has been determined that the game continues. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the means for repeating steps (B) through (H) if required involves enacting the means for ending the game because it has been determined that the game does not continue. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising an initiating device and a play along game processing device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the initiating device comprises at least one of a telephone, a mobile phone device, a computing device, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, and a notepad. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the play along game processing device comprises a computing device that accepts input from the initiating device and play-by-play information. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product encoding a computer program for a computer process that executes on a computer system implementing a play along game in which a plurality of fans play a secondary game in combination with a primary sports game being played by others, the computer process comprising:
 (A) selecting a primary sports game;   (B) assigning drive outcome options to the plurality of fans;   (C) the plurality of fans playing along as a drive begins in the primary sports game;   (D) determining the outcome of the drive after the drive ends in the primary sports game;   (E) assigning a plurality of drive outcome option points to the plurality of fans;   (F) testing special options;   (G) determining if the primary sports game continues;   (H) repeating steps (B) through (H) if required; and   (I) ending the game.