How's this for an idea for a trivia game?

[Kalel21]

When my next book comes out (hopefully this calender year), I'm thinking of doing a trivia contest with a copy of the book as a prize.

Here's how I'm planning on running it:

10 players can sign up.

Each round, each player is randomly assigned a question. There's a different question for each player.

Questions will cover comic books, comic strips, classic films, old-time radio and early TV.

The players are given a deadline (probably a day or two later)--they have to post an answer to their question before the deadline.

A correct answer earns 5 points. An incorrect answer penalizes the player 10 points.

A player can just post "I don't know" and take a 5 point penalty rather than risk giving a wrong answer.

Two players can mutually agree to swap their questions anytime before the deadline.

Players are allowed to google or otherwise research their questions.


I'll start the contest when I find out when my book is coming out. Right now, I'm just looking for opinions on whether this sounds fun.

[Antipathy]

I'm willing to sign up.

[Kalel21]

I'm willing to sign up.


I'll let you know when I'm starting up the contest. In the meantime, I'm mostly looking for opinions on whether this sounds like a fun format for a trivia contest.

[Darkseid Sr.]

I like, I like. And my opinion is all that matters.

[AlienFlanders]

What's the book about and will the copy be signed?

Sounds like a interesting idea.

[Kalel21]

What's the book about and will the copy be signed?

Sounds like a interesting idea.


It'll be signed--though my handwriting is largely illegible.

The book is about old-time radio adaptations of literature and fiction--shows like Sherlock Holmes or Sam Spade, that began life in print and then later moved to radio.

[theanalogkid]

I like it and sign me up if you decide to do it. Maybe a sliding point scale for how fast you answer your question?

[Kalel21]

I like it and sign me up if you decide to do it. Maybe a sliding point scale for how fast you answer your question?


I don't know if I want to include any sort of time pressure. I don't want someone missing a chance to get an answer right because "real life" gets in the way of playing a trivia game.

[Kalel21]

I've come up with a total of 50 trivia questions, so the contest is ready to go from that end.

My book hasn't been given a release date yet, though. It will probably be sometime this year, but it is probably months away yet. So it'll (sadly) be awhile before I can run the "win my book" trivia contest.

I will do it, though, as soon as the book is out.

[Darkseid Sr.]

I'm signing up in advance, if that is possible.

[Kalel21]

I'm signing up in advance, if that is possible.


I'll post here when I'm ready to start the trivia game, so anyone subscribing to this thread will have a chance to sign up.

It'll probably be some months yet, though. sigh.

[Kalel21]

Here's what the cover of the book will look like:

Radio by the Book (http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/searches/advanced_search2.php?advanced=deforest&x=9&y=8)

So that's what you would all be playing for.

It's still not scheduled exactly for when it will be released, though it will likely be sometime between July and December.

[Kalel21]

It looks like my book is going to be released on November 30.

I think I'll go ahead and start the trivia contest when I'm back from vacation in June. That way, I can give generous deadlines to each player in regards to when they have to submit an answer.

I'll post here as well when I've started the sign up thread.

[Kalel21]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to start this trivia contest in early June, when my vacation is over and I have access to the Internet regularly once again.

I've decided to simplify the game quite a bit. There will be ten players (presuming that many people are interested.) Every round, everyone is given their own question. Players will still have the option of trading questions with each other.

From there, it is simple elimination. I'll keep score of incorrect answers for each player. Any time a player racks up two incorrect answers, he or she is eliminated from the contest.

We'll do a two or three rounds each week, so no one feels rushed to submit an answer. I'm starting this contest with nearly five months before my book is scheduled to be published, so if the contest takes a while before we get a winner, that'll be fine.

I'll post again here before I start the actual game thread.

[loganspeedo]

sounds like fun. I'm in if and when you ever start.

[spikerdude]

Same with me. The book sounds good too.

[Kalel21]

I've started the thread for the trivia contest:

http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3641718#post3641718

Post there soon if you are still interested in playing.

[Ignatz_Mouse]

That sounds like fun, *and* let me know when you do sign-ups!

[Kalel21]

That sounds like fun, *and* let me know when you do sign-ups!


You can sign up now. Follow the link in my previous post.