Here’s video of the new British game show “The Cube.” You could basically call this a cross between “Beat the Clock” and an 80s video game, which kinda works.
Contestants are given a seemingly simple task to do (demonstrated by “The Body”) and they win money if they can successfully complete it. However, if they fail, they lose a life (nine are given to start). Use up all your lives, it’s game over, no money. And where there’s a money chain, lifelines can’t be too far behind. Here, there are two: “Simplify,” which obviously makes the game easier, but you don’t know how, and “Trial Run,” which basically gives you a free run at the task. If you fail, you don’t lose a life, and if you succeed, you don’t win money (So, you’d have to complete it again to go to the next task).
Other two parts of this show will be up some time tomorrow.
17 Responses
Great show so far, but personally, I could do without the Matrix-y effects. Just personal taste.
This would probably do well in the US, but it'd have to be on the right network.
Posted on August 26th, 2009 at 4:50 am
Gadzooks, that's cool. Simple, but super challenging games, with an incredibly cool presentation and execution. Me gusta mucho.
Posted on August 26th, 2009 at 4:53 am
IAWAYC. (I agree with all your comments.) It just feels like a Fox show to me. It's almost perfect as it is. Just save the bullet-time for the instant replays.
Posted on August 26th, 2009 at 5:54 am
I think it's a tad….silly. I mean I like it myself, but I'm worried it's not gonna be taken seriously by any TV audience, especially if you got to a 50k or 100k game.
As for the matrix and etc, I'd almost prefer to see the whole show done with just the cube and a disembodied voice and maybe The Body in a neighboring cube watching. Give it a more bizarre claustrophobic solitary feel. I think the blend of cube-of-doom and studio-audience feel isn't working. Take out the host and audience, and put it on gsn or g4
Posted on August 26th, 2009 at 7:38 am
I could easily see FOX picking this game up, with a different prize ladder
$1,000/$5,000/$10,000/$25,000/$50,000/$100,000/$500,000
The only problem is that I feel Mark Thompson might host it.
Posted on August 26th, 2009 at 7:55 am
You're not just whistling dixie, my friend. I can just see it now:
"It's the game where percision is key… reflexes must be swift… & patience is a MUST…. Do you have what it takes to beat…..THE CUBE? It's the show you'll be talking about tomorrow".
Honestly, Matrix effects or not, can't they make it more obnoxous than that? I mean, you're litterally playing a real-life "video game". I can just imagine how that'll translate to Nintendo's Wii.
Posted on August 26th, 2009 at 9:31 am
It's Beat The Clock with BIGGER STAKES……..I think this would work in the U.S…..depending on the network, I can see a top prize from $ 100,000 to $ 1 MILLION……
Posted on August 26th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Yes, because ten times the top prize means ten times the excitement, right? Ah, er… no.
Posted on August 26th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Well $1 Million top prizes are the norm these days though.
Posted on August 26th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
So, tactically, you have to either have to have a game so strong people would watch it even with a lower prize range, or a much bigger prize. I know which of these most TV companies would prefer.
Posted on August 27th, 2009 at 2:40 am
So, tactically, you have to either have to have a game so strong people would watch it even with a lower prize range, or a much bigger prize. I know which of these most TV companies would prefer.
Posted on August 27th, 2009 at 2:40 am
I agree. This has Fox written all over it. They could air this as either a time filler until American Idol is ready, or, as a lead in (or out) for Idol. As for the game, I love it. It got that feel of The Matrix and (as Alex mentioned) Beat the Clock.
Posted on August 27th, 2009 at 2:52 am
The Matrix stuff worked well on those close calls, but when he's jumping and heading the ball!?!?!? Not sure about that one.
Posted on August 27th, 2009 at 2:58 am
Uh-uh. BAD idea. Removing the host and the audience makes an already over-the-top game downright ludicrous.
It also makes it too much like a "reality-show" which I can't stand for the life of me. It's PERFECT the way it is.
Posted on August 27th, 2009 at 3:04 am
I say have a prize ladder that looks like this:
$250,000
$100,000
$75,000
$50,000
$25,000
$10,000
$5,000
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 2:18 am
Also add a bonus help that you can use an unlimited amount of times that is called jump where you can skip the task at the cost of $10,000 of your grand prize
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 2:22 am
Also if you run out of lives you must go back two parts but if you are at 5 or 10 thousand you go home with 1 and 2 thousand respectively.
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 2:26 am
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