Player interactive video gaming device

A two-way video entertainment apparatus for accomodating a plurality of players at remote locations, comprising:

• a data link for carrying prompting and reward data;
• a central station interfaced with said data link for transmitting prompting data onto said data link and controlling data flow therein;
• a plurality of remote terminal units, each unit for use by an individual player and interfaced with said data link, each of said terminal units having:
• means for receiving said prompting data from said data link, said prompting data comprised of a query portion indicating a question in a predetermined category and a response portion indicating a select group of correct answers limited in number and being subjective in nature, the answers having an unknown selection probability,
• means for displaying prompting instructions in response to receiving said prompting data,
• means for allowing the player to select one of the responses,
• means for allowing the player to input a sum of money to gain access to said terminal,
• means for transmitting the selected response to said data link,
• means for receiving a signal from said data link indicating the number of said terminals having access thereto and displaying the number for viewing by the player,
• means for receiving a reward signal from said data link and means for providing the player with a reward if the response provided by the player corresponds to said reward signal;
• said central station having:
• means for generating said prompting data and transmitting said prompting data onto said data link,
• means for determining the number of said terminals having access to said data link and generating a signal indicating the number of said accessing terminals to all of said accessing terminals;
• means for receiving said selected responses from said accessing terminals on said data link,
• means for determining which of said responses was the winning response according to a prestored algorithm, said algorithm determining the winning response as a function of the received responses, said algorithm determining the winning response as the least chosen response from the answers provided in said prompting data,
• means for generating said reward signal and transmitting said reward signal on said data link for reception by said remote data terminals, said reward signal containing data indicative of the winning response, each of said remote data terminals rewarding the player if the response provided thereat corresponds to the winning response.

A video entertainment method for use by a plurality of players at remote locations, comprising:

• generating prompting data at a central location, the prompting data comprised of query portion indicating a question in a predetermined category and a response portion indicating a select group of correct answers limited in number and being subjective in nature, the answers having an unknown selection probability;
• transmitting the prompting data to a plurality of remote terminals at remote locations;
• displaying prompting instructions to the players at their remote locations in response to receiving the prompting data to aid a player in utilizing a remote terminal;
• determining at the central location the number of remote terminals accessing the prompting data and transmitting the number to the remote terminals for display to the player;
• receiving a response from the player which constitutes a selection of one of the answers and transmitting the response to the remote central location and storing the response at the location;
• transmitting the stored response to the central location;
• comparing the responses from all of the remote locations at the central location and determining which response was the least selected one, the least selected response being a function of the responses provided by the players at the remote terminals such that the players' subjective perspective towards selecting one of the answers determines the outcome;
• transmitting a reward signal back to all of the remote locations from the central location, the reward signal having contained therein an indication of the least selected response;
• determining at each of the remote locations if the received response from the player at that location corresponds to the least selected response;
• and
• providing a reward if the response provided by the player corresponds to the least selected response.