US 5,697,844 · Granted 1997-12-16

System and method for playing games and rewarding successful players

A system and method for evaluating responses to broadcast programs, such as television programs, includes an instructional signal modulated onto a signal transmitted concurrently with the television program, or time-multiplexed with television signals. At each of a plurality of remote receiving stations, one or more members of a remote audience has the opportunity to respond to a task or situation presented in the television program by entering a response vocally or on a keyboard. The system may include a video game machine suitable for playing commercially available games such as an NINTENDO game or a SEGA game, and wherein such game may be played back from a recording. The system includes response evaluation circuitry, a memory responsive to the instructional signal for storing acceptable responses, a comparison circuit for comparing responses entered at the keyboard with those stored in the memory, circuitry for scoring responses in accordance with commands from the instructional signal, and a recording device for providing a permanent record of the audience score at the remote station. Electronic circuitry for evaluation and scoring purposes may be located at a remote station and/or a central location. Multiple players at a common game may be ranked in their performance, and games may be interrupted for a sponsor's message, and wherein a response to the message may serve as a basis for an enhanced score.

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