Brain Game Rules and Information

Brain Game Format

1.       Two teams, with three players each, compete in a game during the regular season.

a.      Each team may have one alternate player per game to substitute into the game.

b.      After the Arts & Literature round, an alternate may be substituted, but must stay in place for the remainder of the game.

c.      Otherwise, alternates may be substituted during a commercial break and only due to an existing player’s illness or other physical inability to play.

2.      Each team will be assigned three questions per category. +/- 20 points per question.

a.      There are No Buzzers, No Need to Interrupt. Please hold your answer until the question is read in its entirety.

b.      Your team will have 5 seconds to discuss your answer.

c.      Before play, please choose one team member who will answer each question for your team. So that we don’t mistake your discussion with your actual answer, please respond to each question by saying, “Our team’s answer is____.” (Even if it’s “Our team’s answer is… pass!)

d.      Points will be deducted only for incorrect answers. You may answer “pass” and your score remains the same. You must say “pass” in the allotted time or when prompted for an answer. Otherwise, points will be deducted for an incorrect answer.

3.      If a team answers incorrectly, or passes on its assigned question, the other team will have an opportunity to answer that question.

4.      The secondary team must provide an answer immediately after being called on. If the team does not answer within the allotted time they will forego their chance to steal points for that question. Points will only be deducted if the team gives an incorrect answer. Teams attempting to steal a question will not be penalized for failing to say pass before their time expires

Acceptable Answers

1.      Any incorrect information given as an answer makes the entire answer incorrect. For instance, providing an incorrect first name and correct last name. (In regards to people, providing a last name only is acceptable as a correct answer, unless a team is asked to be more specific.)

2.      The host or judges, at their own discretion, may prompt for more information on an answer before ruling correct or incorrect.

3.      Only the first answer given will be accepted. “Our team’s answer is____.”

4.      Pronunciations do not have to be exact. A plausible or phonetic pronunciation is usually acceptable, unless it demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding about the correct answer.

5.      Before a team has an opportunity to answer an assigned question, if a player from the opposing team blurts out an answer, the assigned team will still be allowed to answer.

Categories

1.      Pop Up Culture: Themed Segment - Movies, TV, Sports, Internet, Music, Games

2.      Headliners: People in the News; International, National, Local Current Events

3.      Across America: American States, Cities, Geography, Landmarks

4.      Word Power: Themed Segment - Vocabulary, Language, Creative Thinking

5.      Arts & Lit: Music, Dance, Theatre, Art, Architecture, Literature

6.      Name Game: Themed Segment - Any Person, Place, or Thing

7.      Crunching Numbers: General Math, Algebra, Geometry, Discrete Math

8.      Rocket Science: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Physical Science, Technology

9.      Final Question: Globetrotting Extra Credit: World Geography

Each team will secretly write down the number of points 0-200 they are willing to risk on the final question. Both teams will be asked the same question, and they will secretly write down their answers. Answers and points risked will be revealed at the end of the game. Those with correct answers will add the “Extra Credit” points to the score. Those with incorrect answers will have the points deducted from their score.

Taping Information

1.     Teams invited to play Brain Game will be contacted by the Coordinating Producer.

2.     All shows are taped on Saturdays at Northern Wake Techs Campus Lecture Hall. Schools should invite fellow students, faculty, staff, other scholastic teams as well as family, friends, and any supporters to the taping to cheer you on.

3.     Teams, coaches, and anyone associated with the players, or their school are permitted entrance to the auditorium only for the game they are scheduled to play. All are prohibited from viewing the tapings prior to their scheduled game. Violation will result in that team’s forfeit.

4.     Teams will receive an emailed package of information for their game day, including directions to Northern Wake Techs Campus Lecture Hall, arrival time, where to meet, etc.

5.     Coaches should provide the Coordinating Producer the names of their players and alternate no later than two weeks prior to taping. Team rosters can change during the season, and it is ok to add players to your roster, but every competitor must have a release E-signed by their parent to appear on the show. If a player does not have a signed release on file, they will not be eligible to compete.

6.     If a team is more than 15 minutes late, and does not contact the Coordinating Producer (252-432-2235), or does not show, that team will be forced to forfeit the game. The forfeiting team will not be invited to participate again for a minimum of one year. Exceptions will be made for certain emergencies at the discretion of the Producer.

7.     Game rules will be reviewed once students arrive on set.

8.     Photographs may be taken when the television cameras are not taping. There will be a period after game play for the audience to get pictures closer to the set.

2024 Playoffs

Playoffs have been expanded to include 16 teams. The 12 winning teams, along with 4 wildcard teams will advance to the playoffs. The winning team with the most points in their regular season game will be the top seat. The 4 wildcard teams will be seeded 12-16 based on their points totals in the regular season. Tiebreakers will be decided via an online randomizer.

Round 1 – February 3rd or March 2nd 2024

16 teams compete – with the winning teams from each date advancing to April 6th

Round 2 – April 6, 2024

8 winners from Round 1 compete.

Final 4 & Championship – April 27, 2024

All 4 teams compete with the 2 winning teams advancing to play a second game on the day to be crowned Brain Game champion.

Code of Conduct

All players, coaches, school representatives, and other persons associated with a team are bound by an honor code to behave responsibly and ethically. This includes but is not limited to: treating all other participants and staff with courtesy, neither giving nor receiving impermissible assistance, not creating the temptation for another to cheat, abiding by all decisions of the Brain Game staff, not colluding with another person to "fix" a game result, not intentionally "throwing" a game, honestly reporting details of game situations to tournament officials, and reporting violations of the honor code.

Instances of misconduct may result in removal from the studio, suspension of a participant, and/or a team ban from participation.

Protests

1.     All decisions of the show’s Producer are final.

2.     Protests should be made to the judges during the first available break, not during play. Delayed protests will not be considered.

3.     Reasons for protest include acceptability of an answer, execution of game procedures, or scoring errors. Protests will be considered only if they affect the outcome of the game.

4.     If a question contains a verifiable factual error which misled a player into giving a reasonable response to the information provided, the response given will be accepted as correct.

5.     If a question contains a verifiable factual error which misled a player into giving no response (leading either to an unanswered question or a question answered by the opposing team), the question will be tossed out with no impact on score.

6.     Only the judges may determine whether a team was given the allotted time to answer a question and their decision is not subject to protest.

7.      Intangible factors, such as breaking a team’s momentum, will not be considered by the judges.

8.     Coaches, and possibly players may be invited to complete an online survey at the end of the season in effort to keep game play and the student experience at a highly enjoyable level – participation in these surveys and the answers you provide will have no impact on team scheduling and selection for future seasons of Brain Game

Any questions? Contact Bill DiNicola, Coordinating Producer, at braingame@wral.com or 252-432-2235 or Don Ursich Local Production Manager, at d.ursich@wral.com or 919-821-8552