System and method for providing interactive content for multiple networked users in a shared venue using short messaging service communication

An apparatus comprising:

• a central server hosting an activity for a plurality of participants, the participants having respective communication devices, the communication devices including a messaging transceiver and a local screen;
• the central server in data communication with a display system during the activity, the display system in proximity to the central server, the display system including a shared screen, the shared screen comprising a physical screen being commonly viewable by at least two of the plurality of participants of the activity, at least a portion of the activity being displayable on the shared screen and other portions of the activity being concurrently displayable on the local screens of the respective communication devices, the shared screen comprising a plurality of display regions, wherein each display region of the plurality of display regions displays different content associated with the activity;
• and
• the central server in data communication with the respective communication devices of the plurality of participants, each communication device configured to convey options and selections between the communication device and the central server with one or more text messages according to a Short Messaging Service (SMS) text messaging protocol, each communication device including functionality for the participants to use text messaging to interact with the activity controlled by the central server, the shared screen not being one of the plurality of communication devices.

A method comprising:

• hosting an activity on a central server for a plurality of participants;
• communicating between the central server and a display system in proximity to the central server, the display system including a shared screen, the shared screen being commonly viewable by at least two of the plurality of participants of the activity, at least a portion of the activity being displayable on the shared screen, wherein the shared screen comprises a plurality of display regions such that each display region of the plurality of display regions displays different content associated with the activity;
• communicating between the central server and a plurality of communication devices, for use by the plurality of participants, at least one of the communication devices including a text messaging transceiver, at least one of the communication devices including functionality for the participants to use text messaging to interact with the activity controlled by the central server, at least one of the communication devices including functionality to concurrently display another portion of the activity via a local screen;
• and
• conveying options and selections between the communication device and the central server with one or more text messages according to a Short Messaging Service (SMS) text messaging protocol, the shared screen not being one of the plurality of communication devices.