Box office game

Abstract

In at least one aspect, methods and corresponding systems operable to perform the methods are provided herein that allow multiple players, registered and unregistered, to play a game wherein players submit predictions for box office revenue for a plurality of films and, in certain instances, are awarded points for the proximity of the prediction to actual revenues.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by at least one processor, from an unregistered player via a first computing device in use by the unregistered player, a first prediction for a variable associated with a first plurality of events;   automatically generating, by the least one processor, a unique identifier for the unregistered player based on a computing identifier pre-associated with the first computing device in use by the unregistered player, and storing the unique identifier on the first computing device;   receiving, by the least one processor, from a registered player via a second computing device, a second prediction for the variable associated with the first plurality of events;   after termination of the first plurality of events, transmitting, by the least one processor, via communication circuitry, a result of the first prediction and the second prediction to the first and second computing devices for display thereon, respectively; and   transmitting, by the least one processor, to the first and second computing devices a listing of a second plurality of events including a first event distinct from the first plurality of events, and a holdover event previously included in the first plurality of events, for which the unregistered player and registered player enter third and fourth predictions, respectively, for at least the holdover event.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the computing identifier pre-associated with the first computing device includes a Media Access Control (MAC) address, and
 wherein the unique identifier for the unregistered player is generated based at least partially on the MAC address of the first computing device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the computing identifier pre-associated with the first computing device includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to the first computing device, and
 wherein the unique identifier for the unregistered player is generated based at least partially on the IP address of the first computing device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the least one processor, to the second computer device of the registered player a listing of players participating in predictions for at least one of the first or second plurality of events for display on the second computing device,   wherein the listing of players includes display of the unique identifier of the unregistered player, and a pre-generated unique identifier for the registered player.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the listing of players is transmitted only to registered players. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the variable includes a box office revenue, and wherein the first plurality of events includes a plurality of films. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second predictions predict the box office revenue for each of the plurality of films over a predesignated amount of time. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the predesignated amount of time includes one or more days corresponding to an opening of at least one of the plurality of films. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising causing, by the at least one processor, an interface screen to be displayed to the first and second computing devices, wherein the interface screen includes a listing of the first plurality of events, and form elements to which inputs are receivable to indicate predictions for each of the first plurality of events. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein results of predictions are analyzed in order to determine a ranking order of registered and unregistered players based on score calculated from prediction accuracy for each of the registered and unregistered players, and
 wherein a scoreboard list of the registered and unregistered players is transmitted only to the registered players.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor;   communication circuitry; and   memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to:
 receive from an unregistered player via a first computing device in use by the unregistered player a first prediction for a variable associated with a first plurality of events; 
 automatically generate a unique identifier for the unregistered player based on a computing identifier pre-associated with the first computing device in use by the unregistered player, and cause the unique identifier to be stored on the first computing device; 
 receive from a registered player via a second computing device a second prediction for the variable associated with the first plurality of events; 
 after termination of the first plurality of events, transmit via the communication circuitry a result of the first prediction and the second predication to the first and second computing devices for display thereon, respectively; and 
 transmit to the first and second computing devices a listing of a second plurality of events including a first event distinct from the first plurality of events, and a holdover event previously included in the first plurality of events, for which the unregistered player and registered player enter third and fourth predictions, respectively, for at least the holdover event. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the computing identifier pre-associated with the first computing device includes a Media Access Control (MAC) address, and
 wherein the unique identifier for the unregistered player is generated based at least partially on the MAC address of the first computing device.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the computing identifier pre-associated with the first computing device includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to the first computing device, and
 wherein the unique identifier for the unregistered player is generated based at least partially on the IP address of the first computing device.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , in which the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to:
 transmit to the second computer device of the registered user a listing of players participating in predictions for at least one of the first or second plurality of events for display on the second computing device,   wherein the listing of players includes display of the unique identifier of the unregistered player, and a pre-generated unique identifier for the registered player.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the listing of players is transmitted only to registered players. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the variable includes a box office revenue, and wherein the first plurality of events includes a plurality of films. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second predictions predict the box office revenue for each of the plurality of films over a predesignated amount of time. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the predesignated amount of time includes one or more days corresponding to an opening of at least one of the plurality of films. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , in which the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to:
 cause an interface screen to be displayed to the first and second computing devices,   wherein the interface screen includes a listing of the first plurality of events, and form elements to which inputs are receivable to indicate predictions for each of the first plurality of events.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein results of predictions are analyzed in order to determine a ranking order of registered and unregistered players based on score calculated from prediction accuracy for each of the registered and unregistered players, and
 wherein a scoreboard list of the registered and unregistered players is transmitted only to the registered players.