Scalable Multi-Player Game with a Strategic Component

A method of administering an interactive game comprising of one or more rounds between a host computer and a plurality of peripheral user interface devices, wherein each round comprising the steps of:

• a) transmitting from a host processor a discrete ordered selection set to the plurality of peripheral user interface devices, wherein the discrete ordered selection set comprises a plurality of selectable ranked items;
• b) providing on each user interface device a number of electronic type 1 tokens and electronic type 2 tokens;
• c) opening an entry period where players are able to join the game during the entry period through the user interface devices;
• d) opening a selection period, wherein during the selection period the type 1 and type 2 tokens associated with each user interface device, independently from one another, are able to be linked with one or more of the selectable ranked items;
• e) closing the entry period wherein after the entry period is closed, no further players are able to join the game;
• f) closing the selection period wherein after the selection period is closed, no further type 1 and type 2 tokens are able to be linked to one or more of the selectable ranked items through the user interface devices, and wherein the closing of the selection period occurs after the closing of the entry period;
• g) transmitting data from each user interface device to the host computer when the selection period is closed, wherein the transmitted data comprises which selectable ranked items are linked to the type 1 and type 2 tokens from each user interface device;
• h) identifying via the host computer the smallest or lowest ranked item of the selectable ranked items having the least nonzero number of linked type 1 tokens from the transmitted data from the user interface devices and no linked type 2 tokens from the transmitted data from the user interface devices, and designating the identified smallest or lowest ranked item the winning item;
• i) determining via the host computer one or more winning players for the round, wherein the one or more winning players are players who linked a type 1 token to the winning item through the user interface devices;
• and
• j) determining if there is a single unique winning player in the round, in which case said unique winner is awarded a prize;
• wherein if there is no single unique winner in the round, the prize is not awarded, and another round is scheduled.

An apparatus for providing an interactive game between a plurality of players, where said system comprises:

• a) a host processor programmed for collecting and processing input data, and outputting data and information relevant to the game;
• and
• b) one or more user interface stations connected to said host processor, said one or more user interface stations able to send player selection input to said host processor, and said host processor able to send data and information to the user interface stations;
• wherein said host processor is programmed to:
• i) transmit to each user interface station a discrete ordered selection set, wherein the selection set comprises a plurality of selectable ranked items, and also provide to each user interface station a number of electronic type 1 and electronic type 2 tokens;
• ii) open an entry period where the players are able to join the game during the entry period through the user interface stations;
• iii) open a selection period, wherein during the selection period the type 1 and type 2 tokens associated with each user interface station, independently from one another, are able to be linked with one or more of the selectable ranked items;
• iv) close the entry period wherein after the entry period is closed, no further players may join the game;
• v) close the selection period, wherein after the selection period is closed, no further type 1 and type 2 tokens are able to be linked to one or more of the selectable ranked items through the user interface stations, and wherein the closing of the selection period occurs after the closing of the entry period;
• vi) transmit data from each user interface station to the host computer when the selection period is closed, wherein the transmitted data comprises which selectable ranked items are linked to the type 1 and type 2 tokens from each user interface station;
• vii) identify which selectable ranked items in the selection set, among those that did not contain type 2 tokens, contained the least number of type 1 tokens with at least r type 1 tokens, where r>0;
• viii) identify the smallest or lowest ranked item of the selectable ranked items that have at least r type 1 tokens and no type 2 tokens, and designate the identified smallest or lowest ranked item as the winning item;
• and
• ix) determine the one or more winning players for the game, wherein the one or more winning players are the players who linked a type 1 token to the winning item.