Mine was actually titled Banko, and as a number from 1-25 was drawn, players answered toss-up questions for the right to win that numbered box on the board (I'll have to check my old rule sheet at home as I made a box version for myself - I don't remember having a free space). When a player answered correctly, a cash amount or a prize in that square was revealed and put in a "bank" for the first contestant to get 5 in a row. At least two squares were turnabouts, which gave you the chance to pick any space occupied by an opponent's marker and change it to your own if you answered another question correctly. Dan didn't repond right away on it, and since I was sending all kinds of ideas, it probably got set aside in my mind. I later had a conversation with an associate of Dan's, and we were discussing properties that were divided between Dan and Jack's estates, and Banko came up. It didn't ring right then, as isn't there a card game that has a similar sounding name (not the dice game bunco)? I thought it might have been something else. Then I visit a certain personality's webste, and I see the host in front of a podium marked BANKO and holding a bingo-type card with what looked like individual categories. Talk about pissed! A couple of alterations, and it's rolling..at least as a property, if not a launched program. I'm delighted I had his ear and some respect - but obviously not enough. He kept me posted on the progress of a couple of other formats he had an interest in, but not this one.
For what it's worth, it wasn't until I got a copy of the EOTVGS that I found I had redeveloped many of the elements in a program I had never seen - Music Bingo. I thought it was original when I developed it, but it just confirms it's hard to find good game mechanics that haven't been done before. But it's why I will not send anything to anyone these days without having my butt covered legally.
