Comments on: “Grand Slam” Commentary for August 25th http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:30:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: David Howell http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22228 David Howell Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:07:30 +0000 http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22228 This is just incredible, and I say that as someone who's been in touch with at least a couple of dozen Deal or No Deal contestants here in the UK (and actually offered advice to one of them - didn't help him, DID help someone else who played while he was on the wings). Ogi, between you replying and me seeing your reply, I realised Rutter would still be on top. His chance came and went on 1 vs 100's Last Man Standing. Regarding Millionaire (and I apologise for reopening a wound) - I guess you were prepared to take more risks to see Q15 than you were once actually there... can't blame you for that either. Heck, I'd be infinitely more inclined to take a chance when uncertain on Q14 than on Q15, on your tree anyway - mostly because $500,000 after tax is a house and $250,000 after tax... isn't? (Generalising to the UK; I'd actually not even risk the £250,000 question for that very same reason. I felt that £125,000 would buy me a house, at least a small one; since the levels below £250,000 have changed to *£50,000*/£75,000/£150,000 for this season, I am even more certain that the first six-figure sum would be my stopping point if I got onto the upper tier. But bear in mind my sensory defensiveness related to autism means that controlling my environment is probably the best use of money I can think of.) I doubt you were in any position to notice, but I'll ask it anyway; did you ever gain the impression of external forces, such as the host, influencing your decision to take risks or not to, and do you think that different external forces would have influenced you? I know regulations (of the sort Harris alludes to in an earlier comment) prevent a certain degree of host/producer involvement, and I mostly ask because some of the Deal or No Deal contestants I've spoken to (see paragraph 1) have alluded to a certain degree of intervention (which also comes out in the aired product) towards risk-taking. This is just incredible, and I say that as someone who’s been in touch with at least a couple of dozen Deal or No Deal contestants here in the UK (and actually offered advice to one of them - didn’t help him, DID help someone else who played while he was on the wings).

Ogi, between you replying and me seeing your reply, I realised Rutter would still be on top. His chance came and went on 1 vs 100’s Last Man Standing.

Regarding Millionaire (and I apologise for reopening a wound) - I guess you were prepared to take more risks to see Q15 than you were once actually there… can’t blame you for that either. Heck, I’d be infinitely more inclined to take a chance when uncertain on Q14 than on Q15, on your tree anyway - mostly because $500,000 after tax is a house and $250,000 after tax… isn’t? (Generalising to the UK; I’d actually not even risk the £250,000 question for that very same reason. I felt that £125,000 would buy me a house, at least a small one; since the levels below £250,000 have changed to *£50,000*/£75,000/£150,000 for this season, I am even more certain that the first six-figure sum would be my stopping point if I got onto the upper tier. But bear in mind my sensory defensiveness related to autism means that controlling my environment is probably the best use of money I can think of.)

I doubt you were in any position to notice, but I’ll ask it anyway; did you ever gain the impression of external forces, such as the host, influencing your decision to take risks or not to, and do you think that different external forces would have influenced you? I know regulations (of the sort Harris alludes to in an earlier comment) prevent a certain degree of host/producer involvement, and I mostly ask because some of the Deal or No Deal contestants I’ve spoken to (see paragraph 1) have alluded to a certain degree of intervention (which also comes out in the aired product) towards risk-taking.

]]> By: lobster http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22095 lobster Sat, 01 Sep 2007 23:09:32 +0000 http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22095 whammy -- I played it for a bit last night and, although the game play is pretty professionally programmed, some of the questions were RIDICULOUS and not very indicative of what we see on GS. Example: In the MATH round, one of the questions actually asked "How many points in Frogger must yo achieve to win an extra life?" .. That's not only NOT a math question, but it's way beyond obscure trivia that is very very specific to a select group of Frogger nerds. While I can certainly appreciate 1980s arcade trivia (Whoever wrote the questions is an obvious coin-op game fan, as I saw four other direct trivia references to Pac Man, Ms Pac Man, and Donkey Kong), after playing only about four times, there is an obvious bias towards that genre, whereas I'd say one in every ten thousand questions you see on television game shows would be about arcade games... :p Weird. :D Now, if GS realllly wants to get their game on, they can always consult our little online game show programming group and get that puppy two-player-ified. :D LObs whammy — I played it for a bit last night and, although the game play is pretty professionally programmed, some of the questions were RIDICULOUS and not very indicative of what we see on GS.

Example: In the MATH round, one of the questions actually asked “How many points in Frogger must yo achieve to win an extra life?” .. That’s not only NOT a math question, but it’s way beyond obscure trivia that is very very specific to a select group of Frogger nerds.

While I can certainly appreciate 1980s arcade trivia (Whoever wrote the questions is an obvious coin-op game fan, as I saw four other direct trivia references to Pac Man, Ms Pac Man, and Donkey Kong), after playing only about four times, there is an obvious bias towards that genre, whereas I’d say one in every ten thousand questions you see on television game shows would be about arcade games… :p Weird. :D

Now, if GS realllly wants to get their game on, they can always consult our little online game show programming group and get that puppy two-player-ified. :D

LObs

]]> By: Whammy http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22077 Whammy Sat, 01 Sep 2007 20:36:20 +0000 http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22077 On a side note, GSN has released a Grand Slam minigame, and it's HARD!! It is a faithful adaptation, the gen. knowledge Q's are all multiple choice, and as you go further along, some are type in's (for Words/Letters and Numbers/Logic). 'Tis a very good game, and you should try it. Makes me feel like any one of the GS greats are standing 3' away from me. Just the Whammy's opinion. "Order! Order! I sentence you to POVERTY!" On a side note, GSN has released a Grand Slam minigame, and it’s HARD!! It is a faithful adaptation, the gen. knowledge Q’s are all multiple choice, and as you go further along, some are type in’s (for Words/Letters and Numbers/Logic). ‘Tis a very good game, and you should try it. Makes me feel like any one of the GS greats are standing 3′ away from me.

Just the Whammy’s opinion.

“Order! Order! I sentence you to POVERTY!”

]]> By: Game Show Chris http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22070 Game Show Chris Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:32:42 +0000 http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22070 Anytime Phyllis, do you need copies? Anytime Phyllis, do you need copies?

]]> By: phyllis harris http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22063 phyllis harris Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:21:02 +0000 http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22063 Game Show Chris: Thanks for the heads up about my Card Shark appearances running on GSN. Whammy: I have not been on any Bill Rafferty shows. Ken: I know you played Grand Slam for reasons having nothing to do with the monetary prize, but that wasn't true for me. Yes, I love competition. I was a varsity tennis player, inter-mural water polo player, nationally ranked swimmer and competitive cheerleader. Those, I did for the competition. Televised game shows are for winning money. Otherwise, anyone can get the thrill of playing against terrific trivia minds by playing NTN, at many venues, each night of the week. I knew that Grand Slam was going to be extremely competitive and that, without practice and preparation, I was a big underdog going into the show. However, I love the concept, love game shows, and hoped to be a part of a change in the landscape of reality-type programming. I'm not a fan of the reality shows that create situations where guise, and mean-spiritedness rule the day. I think shows rewarding intelligence, fair play, and "no whining" are lacking on television right now. I'm happy to have been a participant in Grand Slam and I hope more shows of its ilk start cropping up. I will always be playing and I will always be hoping to win the money. Game Show Chris: Thanks for the heads up about my Card Shark appearances running on GSN. Whammy: I have not been on any Bill Rafferty shows.
Ken: I know you played Grand Slam for reasons having nothing to do with the monetary prize, but that wasn’t true for me. Yes, I love competition. I was a varsity tennis player, inter-mural water polo player, nationally ranked swimmer and competitive cheerleader. Those, I did for the competition. Televised game shows are for winning money. Otherwise, anyone can get the thrill of playing against terrific trivia minds by playing NTN, at many venues, each night of the week. I knew that Grand Slam was going to be extremely competitive and that, without practice and preparation, I was a big underdog going into the show. However, I love the concept, love game shows, and hoped to be a part of a change in the landscape of reality-type programming. I’m not a fan of the reality shows that create situations where guise, and mean-spiritedness rule the day. I think shows rewarding intelligence, fair play, and “no whining” are lacking on television right now. I’m happy to have been a participant in Grand Slam and I hope more shows of its ilk start cropping up. I will always be playing and I will always be hoping to win the money.

]]> By: Whammy http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22049 Whammy Sat, 01 Sep 2007 15:49:52 +0000 http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22049 <p>Welcome Phyllis Harris, Game Show Juggernaut of GS. Now, I find this interesting, but she's appeared on game shows with 2/3 real Card Sharks hosts. (By that I mean pre-2001.) Jim Perry (for CS) and Bob Eubanks (on Trivia Trap). Phyllis, did you appear on anything with Bill Rafferty and make it a 3/3?</p> Welcome Phyllis Harris, Game Show Juggernaut of GS. Now, I find this interesting, but she’s appeared on game shows with 2/3 real Card Sharks hosts. (By that I mean pre-2001.) Jim Perry (for CS) and Bob Eubanks (on Trivia Trap). Phyllis, did you appear on anything with Bill Rafferty and make it a 3/3?

]]> By: Game Show Chris http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22018 Game Show Chris Sat, 01 Sep 2007 07:03:39 +0000 http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-22018 and a related Grand Slam alert, Phyllis Harris started yesterday, Friday, her run on GSN with Card Sharks at 1:30PM weekdays, where's shes facing contestant Charlie (Colonel Mustard from Clue :)) keep an eye on all of next week at that time and a related Grand Slam alert, Phyllis Harris started yesterday, Friday, her run on GSN with Card Sharks at 1:30PM weekdays, where’s shes facing contestant Charlie (Colonel Mustard from Clue :)) keep an eye on all of next week at that time

]]> By: Game Show Chris http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-21953 Game Show Chris Fri, 31 Aug 2007 22:01:50 +0000 http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-21953 Hey Ken, it's Chris from the Cali Congress...thank you again for signing my book and my offer for Passwords still stands Hey Ken, it’s Chris from the Cali Congress…thank you again for signing my book and my offer for Passwords still stands

]]> By: Ken http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-21918 Ken Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:48:59 +0000 http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-21918 In answer to a couple questions (way) above: 1. Mormons don't drink coffee and tea, but there's no injunction against any soft drinks (though I imagine many Mormons don't drink caffeinated ones, by choice). Common misconception. 2. Obviously prize amounts are a GSN budgetary decision, and I'm sure Embassy Row would have loved a bigger pot, to increase the tension, perceived "stakes," etc. Personally, I don't think $100K is comically low that it interferes with the gravity of the show, and it's pretty clear that most of the contestants were in it for the thrill of the game and (potential) bragging rights anyway. We would have shown up for gas money. Maybe game show contestants need to unionize. In answer to a couple questions (way) above:
1. Mormons don’t drink coffee and tea, but there’s no injunction against any soft drinks (though I imagine many Mormons don’t drink caffeinated ones, by choice). Common misconception.
2. Obviously prize amounts are a GSN budgetary decision, and I’m sure Embassy Row would have loved a bigger pot, to increase the tension, perceived “stakes,” etc. Personally, I don’t think $100K is comically low that it interferes with the gravity of the show, and it’s pretty clear that most of the contestants were in it for the thrill of the game and (potential) bragging rights anyway. We would have shown up for gas money. Maybe game show contestants need to unionize.

]]> By: ML http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-21896 ML Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:28:18 +0000 http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/grand-slam-commentary-for-august-25th/#comment-21896 I noticed that on grandslam some questions take longer to read than others. Did this present a problem to any of you, since if both people get all of their questions right but one person's questions are longer overall then that person will lose. Also, if you could change the format of grand slam, what would you do to make it better? I noticed that on grandslam some questions take longer to read than others. Did this present a problem to any of you, since if both people get all of their questions right but one person’s questions are longer overall then that person will lose.

Also, if you could change the format of grand slam, what would you do to make it better?

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