The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => Game Show Channels & Networks => Topic started by: aaron sica on March 27, 2006, 09:23:44 PM
-
Noticed this in my DVR Guide, first airing is April 7 from 1am-3am. Appears to be a bunch of interactive games. Anyone who might know, care to elaborate on it?
-
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'114356\' date=\'Mar 27 2006, 09:23 PM\']
Noticed this in my DVR Guide, first airing is April 7 from 1am-3am. Appears to be a bunch of interactive games. Anyone who might know, care to elaborate on it?
[/quote]
GSN started hawking it the other day. Airing it at 1AM doesn't show much confidence in it, however.
-
From what they showed, it's very similar to this channel in the UK:
http://www.quiznation.tv/web/index.htm (http://\"http://www.quiznation.tv/web/index.htm\")
Which is a pay-to-play quiz channel where you can win small prizes. You used to be able to watch the station on the above website, but that appears to have disappeared. There were questions like:
52 C. in a D. of P. C.
(52 cards in a deck of playing cards)
And they would take maybe one call every 5 minutes, letting people rack up big phone bills before picking a winner. Boring TV. Maybe someone from the K can provide more details about these types of channels.
FS
-
[quote name=\'FlashStash\' post=\'114429\' date=\'Mar 28 2006, 07:58 AM\']
From what they showed, it's very similar to this channel in the UK:
http://www.quiznation.tv/web/index.htm (http://\"http://www.quiznation.tv/web/index.htm\")
Which is a pay-to-play quiz channel where you can win small prizes. You used to be able to watch the station on the above website, but that appears to have disappeared. There were questions like:
52 C. in a D. of P. C.
(52 cards in a deck of playing cards)
And they would take maybe one call every 5 minutes, letting people rack up big phone bills before picking a winner. Boring TV. Maybe someone from the K can provide more details about these types of channels.
FS
[/quote]
From what I've heard, these channels or programs are growing like fungus over there. ITV's overnight schedule is mostly devoted to a similar program, as are some cable/satellite channels (besides the 24/7 channels). As a revenue-enhancer for overnight hours, I don't blame ITV, particularly because infomercials are still banned from the over-the-air channels (they are allowed on the satellite-cable channels, where they're called "Teleshopping"). As compelling programming, I don't really see it--but Shandi is one of the hosts of our version, so...
Anyway, here's the GSN page on the show (and it looks like Lingo will be one of the games they're going to play):
http://www.gsn.com/specific_page_elements.php?link_id=S86 (http://\"http://www.gsn.com/specific_page_elements.php?link_id=S86\")
-
Fungus is the correct word. Sky Digital is clogged with these channels.
You phone a premium rate number at anything from 60p to a £1. You are then treated to a recorded message which either says "hold the line" or "sorry try again". At some point one of the line holders will be get through to the studio. This could be a very long time. There are concerns that some channels only allow callers with wrong answers through. And they don't mention the free web entry either.
The puzzles fall into two types, the easy ones and the impossible ones.
The easy puzzles are loaded with clues from the host. For example:
PIN/TCUK
Find the programme!
The host would go on about it is a drama about plastic surgeons etc. The puzzle lasts for quite a while as they don't take a call too quickly.
The hard ones generally involve "Adding the numbers". Most callers don't realise that Roman numerals are counted as numbers in the answer.
-
One thing I've noticed with the GSN version is that you will play by sending a text message, and it doesn't appear that there will be a fee or a premium line to call in...time will tell!
FS
-
[quote name=\'FlashStash\' post=\'114794\' date=\'Mar 30 2006, 03:40 PM\']
One thing I've noticed with the GSN version is that you will play by sending a text message, and it doesn't appear that there will be a fee or a premium line to call in...time will tell!
FS
[/quote]
But still, one should check their text messaging rates with their wireless carrier, IMHO....If you don't have a text plan, and it costs .10 to send and .10 to receive, for example, they do add up fast.
-
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'114853\' date=\'Mar 31 2006, 08:50 AM\']
[quote name=\'FlashStash\' post=\'114794\' date=\'Mar 30 2006, 03:40 PM\']
One thing I've noticed with the GSN version is that you will play by sending a text message, and it doesn't appear that there will be a fee or a premium line to call in...time will tell!
FS
[/quote]
But still, one should check their text messaging rates with their wireless carrier, IMHO....If you don't have a text plan, and it costs .10 to send and .10 to receive, for example, they do add up fast.
[/quote]
You can enter online at no charge. There is no purchase requirement.
http://www.gsn.com/playmania/signup.php (http://\"http://www.gsn.com/playmania/signup.php\")
-
I'm watching this right now, but is it just me or does PlayMania look like a bad version of "Mad Money" with all the sloppy camera work (a Steadicam would've been better) and a host who's less annoying -- and more attractive -- than Jim Cramer?
Jonathan Allen
-
[quote name=\'Timsterino\' post=\'115535\' date=\'Apr 6 2006, 10:30 PM\']
You can enter online at no charge. There is no purchase requirement.
http://www.gsn.com/playmania/signup.php (http://\"http://www.gsn.com/playmania/signup.php\")
[/quote]
Cool!
Although what I mean is that even though GSN isn't charging anything, if you're using a cell phone, but don't have a text messaging plan, your fun could could cost you, from your wireless carrier.
-
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' post=\'115567\' date=\'Apr 6 2006, 11:37 PM\']
and a host who's less annoying -- and more attractive -- than Jim Cramer?
[/quote]
This pretty much had to happen by default, yes? :)
-
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'115574\' date=\'Apr 7 2006, 07:55 AM\']
Although what I mean is that even though GSN isn't charging anything, if you're using a cell phone, but don't have a text messaging plan, your fun could could cost you, from your wireless carrier.
[/quote]
I believe I saw that there's a 99 cent charge on top of what your cell provider charges -- just like DoND's home lucky case game.
I'd say I'd check next time but after 30 minutes, I feel pretty safe in saying there won't be a next time.
-
Just caught a few minutes of this train wreck. I don't usually do this, but...
Wow.
-
I watched the first show. It's preferable to "Street Smarts," but they need a desk or something for Mel to call home base. She must have walked back and forth across the set a hundred times in the two hours. Some of the callers either could not hear or understand what she was saying. I think they should have Mel and Shandi host together, rather than one person ad-libbing for two hours.
I don't recall seeing any commercials during the show either, which may be by design.
-
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'115679\' date=\'Apr 8 2006, 10:49 AM\']
I watched the first show. It's preferable to "Street Smarts," but they need a desk or something for Mel to call home base. She must have walked back and forth across the set a hundred times in the two hours. Some of the callers either could not hear or understand what she was saying. I think they should have Mel and Shandi host together, rather than one person ad-libbing for two hours.[/quote]
Yeah, I would agree that there should be two hosts at once, and that they should have a few more things going on. That said, while this show is nothing I'd go out of my way to watch, it's pretty entertaining for what it is, and you do get very compelled to call in. As for callers not understanding Mel - cell phones aren't perfect, y'know? ;)
I don't recall seeing any commercials during the show either, which may be by design.
There were a handful of short commercial breaks during the show, but a lot less than what you'd normally see on GSN.
-
I actually think it's an ingenious show, and a perfect thing for GSN to be running late at night. Production costs are near nothing, sponsorships within the program probably take care of most of the costs, and then there are thousands of turnips dropping their 99 cents time and time again to solve those tricky brain-teasers. (Unscramble the letters to spell a sport: GLOF)
The bonus here is that they're showing a willingness, however slight, to do a bare-bones, low-budget original show. If they could be convinced to apply that mentality to a game that's actually challenging (Countdown or Definition for example), GSN might become destination TV for some of us again.
Given that the alternative is well-worn reruns and/or informercials, why not this?
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'115712\' date=\'Apr 8 2006, 06:04 PM\']
(Unscramble the letters to spell a sport: GLOF)
[/quote]
Ummm....Flog? ;)
-
[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'115718\' date=\'Apr 8 2006, 09:11 PM\'][quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'115712\' date=\'Apr 8 2006, 06:04 PM\'](Unscramble the letters to spell a sport: GLOF)[/quote]Ummm....Flog? ;)[/quote]
I'm utterly embarrassed to admit that didn't even occur to me...
-
I kind of enjoyed watching Mel sweat through those uncomfortable stretches waiting for "Player required" to finally get replaced by the name of a caller. That must have been particularly unnerving on the first night. One thing with playing Lingo here: Who really wants to pay 99¢ plus to make that impossible first guess?
-
Yea, Lingo is flawed. At lease have Mel take the first 'guess' to give us some yellow letters. I like the 'Top 5' the best. 5 chances to get some cash.
However, I will never see that cash, being stuck on the west coast feed, and only seeing the re-run of the ET show. (Why the hell rerun a LIVE show, that relies on people calling in? Put some more B&W on the West Coast feed.) Putting Playmania on both feeds doesn't seem that hard to me. It would go from 10-1 on the Pacific Feed, and 1-3 on the Eastern feed.
-
[quote name=\'Hastin\' post=\'115737\' date=\'Apr 9 2006, 01:38 AM\']Yea, Lingo is flawed. At lease have Mel take the first 'guess' to give us some yellow letters. [/quote]
Better yet, make the impossible first guess worth more than anything else on the show (say $500) and see how many people will hurry to pay their 99 cents for a chance at it.
-
Sorry to bump the thread, but has anyone here tried to play this thing, or better yet, actually get on? I figured, what the hell, so I texted the number... They texted me back, I sent my phone number... Didn't get called. Tried one or two more times more, then tried it online. Nothing. Waited the whole evening, and even when they supposedly were waiting for players, no call. I came to the realization that they're not rushing to put new players on so that people will get the impression that nobody else is calling and that they're practically guaranteed to get on and solve the puzzle and win some quick money, when all they're really doing is throwing their dollar bills at GSN like I did. Has anyone else tried and failed, or better yet, tried and succeded?
-
[quote name=\'Gus\' post=\'116152\' date=\'Apr 14 2006, 03:11 AM\']I came to the realization that they're not rushing to put new players on so that people will get the impression that nobody else is calling and that they're practically guaranteed to get on and solve the puzzle and win some quick money, when all they're really doing is throwing their dollar bills at GSN like I did. [/quote]
I believe that's a fairly accurate estimation of the program.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'116158\' date=\'Apr 14 2006, 08:26 AM\']
[quote name=\'Gus\' post=\'116152\' date=\'Apr 14 2006, 03:11 AM\']I came to the realization that they're not rushing to put new players on so that people will get the impression that nobody else is calling and that they're practically guaranteed to get on and solve the puzzle and win some quick money, when all they're really doing is throwing their dollar bills at GSN like I did. [/quote]
I believe that's a fairly accurate estimation of the program.
[/quote]
Which is what those similar channels/programs do in the UK. In real life, I don't think it would take 20 minutes to name five selected Beatles songs like it did last night. Since I resist from having a cell phone and don't have a computer at home, the interactivity part is unavailable to me and Mel's a little too perky. I find the production a little too audio-cluttered for my tastes, as well. I will see how Shandi does with the format, though.
In trying to find something about "PlayMania" in the UK, I found this article from the Sunday Times of London about the whole trend of "participation television," including the fact that ITV is starting its own interactive game channel (with one of the shows a pub quiz from the set of the pub on the venerable soap "Coronation Street"):
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2095-2124801,00.html (http://\"http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2095-2124801,00.html\")
If Big Game TV originates from the old Channel 5 News studio at ITN, does Georgina perch on the corner of a desk in a mini-skirt like Kirsty Young used to do?
-
In real life, I don't think it would take 20 minutes to name five selected Beatles songs like it did last night.
Well, considering how an absurd number of callers that night had no backup guess when somebody knocked out "Hey Jude"...and how this morning's airing featured the question "Top 5 Grossing Movies of All-Time; U.S." and one of the guesses was "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," something tells me the caliber of play isn't exactly high.
-Jason
-
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'116212\' date=\'Apr 15 2006, 09:34 AM\']Well, considering how an absurd number of callers that night had no backup guess when somebody knocked out "Hey Jude"...and how this morning's airing featured the question "Top 5 Grossing Movies of All-Time; U.S." and one of the guesses was "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," something tells me the caliber of play isn't exactly high.[/quote]
I know Leno edits the pieces to only show us the comically boneheaded answers, but if Jaywalking has taught us anything, it's that there's an awful lot of stuff the "average" person doesn't know. Since nobody's being screened for their ability, it's not surprising at all that we get responses like that.
Meanwhile, I admire the idea behind the show from a business standpoint, but they could sure do a lot to make the game more engaging to a viewer. Spending twenty minutes or more on a single question isn't going to hold my attention, not even in the middle of the night.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'115739\' date=\'Apr 9 2006, 02:19 AM\']
[quote name=\'Hastin\' post=\'115737\' date=\'Apr 9 2006, 01:38 AM\']Yea, Lingo is flawed. At lease have Mel take the first 'guess' to give us some yellow letters. [/quote]
Better yet, make the impossible first guess worth more than anything else on the show (say $500) and see how many people will hurry to pay their 99 cents for a chance at it.
[/quote]
Matt, someone from GSN is obviously reading this board. They started doing exactly what you said on Thursday. They offered the first guess $500 and then brought it down to $200. I thought of you and the quote above when I saw that.
Good suggestion!
Tim :-)
-
[quote name=\'Timsterino\' post=\'116231\' date=\'Apr 15 2006, 12:08 PM\']
Matt, someone from GSN is obviously reading this board.
[/quote]
Unpossible! People inside of the industry hate (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=10373&view=findpost&p=115877\") this board!
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'116233\' date=\'Apr 15 2006, 03:42 PM\']
[quote name=\'Timsterino\' post=\'116231\' date=\'Apr 15 2006, 12:08 PM\']
Matt, someone from GSN is obviously reading this board.
[/quote]
Unpossible! People inside of the industry hate (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=10373&view=findpost&p=115877\") this board!
[/quote]
So I heard. ;-)
-
[quote name=\'Timsterino\' post=\'116231\' date=\'Apr 15 2006, 12:08 PM\']Matt, someone from GSN is obviously reading this board. They started doing exactly what you said on Thursday.[/quote]
My, how nice it would be if those fine, fine folks at GSN would air PlayMania from 10 p.m. to midnight on the west coast feed. Then, there'd be even *more* people who could hurry to pay their 99 cents for a chance!
(This Subtle Message has been brought to you by Sledgehammer Pool Cues.)
-
[quote name=\'Timsterino\' post=\'116231\' date=\'Apr 15 2006, 03:08 PM\'][quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'115739\' date=\'Apr 9 2006, 02:19 AM\']Better yet, make the impossible first guess worth more than anything else on the show (say $500) and see how many people will hurry to pay their 99 cents for a chance at it.[/quote]Matt, someone from GSN is obviously reading this board. They started doing exactly what you said on Thursday. They offered the first guess $500 and then brought it down to $200. I thought of you and the quote above when I saw that.[/quote]
This amuses me more than I can say. Not only am I just egotistical enough to think that they actually responded to my suggestion, but I'm also just egotistical enough to see this as more evidence that "the industry" does read this board. Both could easily be wrong, of course, but I'm amused nonetheless.
-
One word:
THOOB
(This was a PlayMania Lingo guess.)
-Joe R.
-
I won $50 and a $50 gc for figuring out BORE with only the top showing (cut up word)
i am on the line again for lingo. my name is Eric.
I was on the line but they hung up on me, I would have gotten another 50/ and 50 gc
-
Nice stuff. I guess I have to beg a pointless question: Were you entering online or via text message?
-
[quote name=\'FOXSportsFan\' post=\'116270\' date=\'Apr 16 2006, 01:38 AM\']
Nice stuff. I guess I have to beg a pointless question: Were you entering online or via text message?
[/quote]
I forgot to mention this: ten entries via Web site only.
-
[quote name=\'goongas\' post=\'116271\' date=\'Apr 16 2006, 01:50 AM\']
[quote name=\'FOXSportsFan\' post=\'116270\' date=\'Apr 16 2006, 01:38 AM\']
Nice stuff. I guess I have to beg a pointless question: Were you entering online or via text message?
[/quote]
I forgot to mention this: ten entries via Web site only.
[/quote]
Okay...figured as much...you missed the point though of my query. Did you, enter via the web or via your cell phone?
-
Web site using my computer.
-
[quote name=\'goongas\' post=\'116266\' date=\'Apr 16 2006, 12:27 AM\']
I won $50 and a $50 gc for figuring out BORE with only the top showing (cut up word)
i am on the line again for lingo. my name is Eric.
I was on the line but they hung up on me, I would have gotten another 50/ and 50 gc
[/quote]
Last night was the first time I had watched, and I turned it off right after your win (had to get my beauty sleep--in which case I should still be sleeping). Nice job nailing that down and congrats on the win. :)
Doug -- and the countdown to 1900 continues