gistfile1.txt

The game
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Any number of players join the game. A question is asked. If, after a certain
period of time, nobody has guessed the answer, a hint is provided. This is
repeated a few times. After a iterations of this, if nobody has guessed the
answer, the game is over and nobody wins.

Scoring
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You get the maximum number of points if you answer correctly before the first
hint is given. The available points decrease with each given hint. For the
purpose of this discussion, we'll assume that a maximum of four hints will be
given, that the maximum score is 5, and that it decreases by one after each
hint. The points that a winner gets are not added to a total though. It's used
in a more complicated manner (see below).

Ranking
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How would it be possible to rank players against each other? E.g. who is number
one, and who is number twelve?

I figured that I would do something like this:

Player A, B, and C play the game. Player A answers the first question correctly
before the first hint (5 points). The software records the fact that Player A
scored 5 points against player B and C. So, every time a alayer wins points,
it only changes this player's skill level in relation to the ones he was playing
against at that particular time. This way, a new player is not at a disadvantage
when he decides to join. At first, his skill level will remain undefined. Then,
as he plays, his skill evolves as a function of his performance against other
players, not just a counter of total points scored.