\u201cHurry, hurry, try your luck, folks. Get lucky and win a thousand dollars with one shot,\u201d shouted the hawker at full lung power to announce the new game stand at the Jolly Woods Amusement Park.<\/p>\n
People flocked to the stand in droves to learn more about this intriguing new game. When they arrived they saw a large semicircular amphitheater with a huge screen about 50 m away facing the spectators. The setup reminded them of a drive-in movie theater of old.<\/p>\n
They were told that a yellow virtual pigeon with a blinking red light would be shot out on the screen at a very high speed, leaving a trail of light. To win a thousand dollars a player had to hit the pigeon using a special laser gun each seat was equipped with.<\/p>\n
One shot cost $10 and players were told that the chance of hitting the speedy virtual pigeon was 4 in a thousand. Payment was via a card slot at each seat, wins immediately transferred to the card.<\/p>\n
Another feature was that for $500 a player could once invite up to two hundred friends to simultaneously take a shot at the pigeon for free.<\/p>\n
\u201cC\u2019mon Charlie, lets give it a shot,\u201d shouted one burly onlooker, taking a seat and picking up the laser gun.<\/p>\n
How many friends would you invite to this game to have a fifty percent chance of hitting the virtual speedy pigeon and winning five hundred dollars?<\/em><\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>