Nerd Trivia Challenge
Official Rules and Regulations
http://www.vintage.org/vcf/ntc.htm
0. The Nerd Trivia Challenge is a game-show like event geared towards
the computer history enthusiast. Questions concering computers, their
inventors, their technologies, and their software are relevant. The
questions are carefully selected by a panel of amateur computer
historians and are researched as thoroughly as possible to ensure the
correct answer is associated with each question. Only questions with
unambiguous, undisputed answers are used in the game.
1. To be considered as a player you must first pass a pre-qualifying
quiz given when you arrive and register at the VCF. This is a series of
10 free-form answer questions, with each question being worth a point.
The pre-qualifying quiz will be given on days one and two of the VCF
(Saturday, October 2 and Sunday, October 3). The top ten scores will
then qualify to move on to the final qualification quiz.
2. If you qualify then you must be available on day two of the event
(Sunday, October 3) at 2:00pm to take the qualifying quiz. This quiz
consists of a series of ten questions, each worth a point. The top three
scorers on the qualifying quiz will be chosen to play the Nerd Trivia
Challenge. In the case of a tie, a tie-breaking question will be asked
in a "sudden death" format. The first person to respond with the correct
answer to the tie-breaking question will be chosen as the final player.
3. The contest consists of two rounds with 25 questions each round in
five different categories (five questions per category), plus a final
round consisting of one question. Each question in each category is
progressively more challenging than the last.
4. Scoring is in "bits". In round 1, the questions at the top of each
category are worth 5 bits and increment by 5 bits so that the last
question is worth 25 bits. In round 2, the questions start at 10 bits
each and increment by 10 bits so that the last question is worth 50
bits. Scores will be displayed in the Octal numbering system.
5. Before the game begins, a player will be selected at random by a
computer to be the first to choose a question from the game board.
6. The game is played thusly: each player's score starts at 0 bits
(or NULL). The game is controlled by the Master Nerd. Each player
has a hand signalling switch. The player who was chosen to go first
will pick a question from the game board. The question will then be
read by the Master Nerd. Once the question has been read, the player
who signals quickest will be called upon to answer the question.
7. The player who is in control of the board may pick any question
of any category they desire. There is no requirement to pick the
questions in order, and there is no requirement to stay with a category
until all its questions are exhausted. In other words, the questions
may be picked in any order the contesant who is in control of the board
desires.
8. A question may not be answered until the Master Nerd has read the
question in its entirety. Once the question has been read, a player
must signal within 3 seconds to answer the question. If no player
signals before the 3 seconds have elapsed then the question is withdrawn,
and the correct answer will be read.
9. The player signalling has 5 seconds to produce the correct answer.
If the time elapses before the player successfully answers the question
then the question is considered answered incorrectly by that player and
the question is then re-opened to the remaining players.
10. If the question is answered correctly the bit value of the question
will be added to the player's score. An incorrect answer will result in
the bit value of the question being deducted from the player's score.
The question is then re-opened to the remaining players, with the same
time constraints as outlined in 8 and 9.
11. Round one includes a special Nerd question, and round two includes
two special Super Nerd questions, which are found only upon a player
selecting the question where these special questions are hidden. When a
player selects a Nerd or Super Nerd question, they will be allowed
to wager any amount (greater than 0) that they will produce the correct
answer to the question. In other words, the player will be able
to determine the point value of the question. The amount wagered may be
up to the player's score, or the value of the question, whichever is
greater. If the question is answered correctly, the bits wagered will
be added to the player's score. If the question is not answered
correctly, the bits wagered will be deducted from the player's score.
In such a case, the question will not be opened up to the other players.
12. There is no time limit on rounds one and two. The rounds will
continue until all questions on the board have been selected.
13. The final round consists of one question which all three players
will have the opportunity to answer. The players will first be told
the category of the question. The players must then secretly record
a wager that they will produce the correct answer. The wager can be any
amount from 0 bits to their current total score. Once the players
have recorded their wagers, the final question will be read. The
players then have 30 seconds to secretly record their answer. Once
the 30 seconds have elapsed, each player will be asked to reveal the
answer they recorded. The players producing the correct answer will
have the amount they wagered added to their score, while those producing
an incorrect answer will have the amount they wagered deducted from their
score.
14. The player that has the highest number of bits at the end of the
game is declared the First Place Winner. The players with the second
and third highest scores are considered the Second and Third Place
Winners respectively. In the case of a tie between any players, a tie
breaking question will be asked. The first contestant to successfully
answer the tie-breaking question will be awarded the place they are
competing for (i.e. First or Second). The process will be repeated in
the event of a three-way tie.
15. Any questions or comments concerning these rules or the Nerd Trivia
Challenge in general may be directed to ntc_at_vintage.org.
EOF
Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar_at_siconic.com
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Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0!
See
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[Last web site update: 05/25/99]
Received on Sat Jun 26 1999 - 22:20:53 BST