The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: plinkoplus on October 07, 2007, 05:41:06 AM
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Hello folks,
I need some help.
I am trying to create my own game show powerpoint games.
I plan on creating games like Catch Phrase, as well as my original ideas.
My question is, how can I randomize the board with the sound still playing continuously, until a button is hit.
I am just curious if anybody had done Press Your Luck on powerpoint, and I would like to know how they did it if they did. Same notion.
If anybody wants me to explain more thoroughly, let me know.
Thanks in advance,
Chris
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Not going to happen unless you're willing to learn some VBA scripting (and even then it's tricky). Straight powerpoint doesn't really accomodate that. Frankly, unless you're that incredibly attached to PowerPoint, you might be better off choosing another environment.
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Ok thanks, I appreciate it.
So, would anyone be able to recommend a program from which I could do this.
Basically, I am trying to find one of the easier programs that is user friendly, one that allows me to add sounds and alter graphics for the game.
If anybody knows an environment like this, I appreciate it.
Again thanks, for the help.
Take care.
Yours Truly,
Chris
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Adobe Flash. Which I suspect doesn't meet your requirements for simplicity, but I'm also fairly sure a program that does meet your requirements doesn't exist.
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Just about the only thing I've found Powerpoint useful for was for making a eggcrate-style countdown clock for a version of Password I did in college. It actually looked pretty slick. But beyond something simple like that, you're asking Powerpoint to do something it's not even remotely made to do.
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[quote name=\'mitchgroff\' post=\'165836\' date=\'Oct 7 2007, 01:01 PM\'] Just about the only thing I've found Powerpoint useful for was for making a eggcrate-style countdown clock for a version of Password I did in college. It actually looked pretty slick. But beyond something simple like that, you're asking Powerpoint to do something it's not even remotely made to do. [/quote]
Not entirely, entirely true. You can use form controls to run a rudimentary scoreboard system (I do that when I do PowerPoint Jeopardy once a year -- right before I give my students an assignment to build a PowerPoint Joepardy) Also, there's a third-party application to let you approximate the mail merge -- this makes queston-writing a bit easier, since you can separate form and content a bit.
I suspect writing Family Feud controls in PowerPoint would actually be viable with those two tools -- though it probably wouldn't be as nifty as what Particleman did back in the day.
Really, though, yeah, he's best off using a more robust scriping language. And right now, Flash is probably his best bet.
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[quote name=\'parliboy\' post=\'165838\' date=\'Oct 7 2007, 01:35 PM\']I suspect writing Family Feud controls in PowerPoint would actually be viable with those two tools -- though it probably wouldn't be as nifty as what Particleman did back in the day. [/quote]
I actually have a working Family Feud Powerpoint that mimics the Australian version (no scoreboards, though, just the survey board, and no fast money board, although I could make one). Unfortunately, it's in the sucky 2007 format, and since the converter to the older format sucks, you're SOL unless you have the 2007 version.
But if you do have '07, fire me an email, and I'll send it to you.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'165835\' date=\'Oct 7 2007, 02:00 PM\']
Adobe Flash. Which I suspect doesn't meet your requirements for simplicity, but I'm also fairly sure a program that does meet your requirements doesn't exist.
[/quote]
Having sucessfully build Jeopardy (complete with a scoring system AND crude lockout), it's very good. Currently I'm working on Temptation...complete with Knock-Off, both Fame Games, and Instant Cash/Vault (no IB's since it's just for a home game with no "winnnings"). It's kinda difficult, but if you use the good tutorials online it's not a problem.
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'165848\' date=\'Oct 7 2007, 04:44 PM\']
([N]o IB's since it's just for a home game with no "winnnings").
[/quote]
Just lots of love.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'165853\' date=\'Oct 7 2007, 07:31 PM\']
[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'165848\' date=\'Oct 7 2007, 04:44 PM\']
([N]o IB's since it's just for a home game with no "winnnings").
[/quote]
Just lots of love.
[/quote]
Maybe he can add this (http://\"http://www.classicgameshows.com/other/temptationshirt.gif\") as a consolation prize.
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[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'165860\' date=\'Oct 7 2007, 07:04 PM\']
Maybe he can add this (http://\"http://www.classicgameshows.com/other/temptationshirt.gif\") as a consolation prize.
[/quote]
I lol'd. Hard. :-)
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'165848\' date=\'Oct 7 2007, 01:44 PM\']
It's kinda difficult, but if you use the good tutorials online it's not a problem.
[/quote]
Could you point me in the direction of said good tutorials? I've been wanting to learn Flash myself, and I need something that assumes I'm a moron and goes from there.
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plinkoplus and anyone else interested in learning Flash, send me an e-mail and I can recommend a few good books. I'll also be glad to give you advice on best practices for arranging you projects.
My advice for anyone planning on developing their own software is to limit your expectations of what you'll be able to achieve at the beginning. It takes time, dedication, and patience to produce anything near remarkable. Start out with small projects like countdown timers, score keepers, things like that. Do the large projects later! Okay, 'nuff said.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'165886\' date=\'Oct 8 2007, 03:44 AM\']
[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'165848\' date=\'Oct 7 2007, 01:44 PM\']
It's kinda difficult, but if you use the good tutorials online it's not a problem.
[/quote]
Could you point me in the direction of said good tutorials? I've been wanting to learn Flash myself, and I need something that assumes I'm a moron and goes from there.
[/quote]
I've always used Tutorialized (http://\"http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Flash/1\") or a search engine. I had to adapt a lot of stuff to make it work (trust me, there isn't a one-stop "create a buzzer system" tutorial).
A book is also helpful. Unfortunately I learned everything I know from adapting tutorials and about one basic Flash class in high school. I'm also more than willing to help if you've got any questions.
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I just got a Flash project dumped on me at work the other day. Having no knowledge of Flash prior to this, I can safely say that this has a horrible learning curve, basically because the user interface for the language tries to treat everything as a super-duper PowerPoint presentation ("movie" in their terms), and not a program. Is Flash one of those things that was meant to do one thing (show simple animations), and now is entirely meant to do something else (be an in-browser replacement)?
--Mike
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[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'165907\' date=\'Oct 8 2007, 12:07 PM\']
Is Flash one of those things that was meant to do one thing (show simple animations), and now is entirely meant to do something else (be an in-browser replacement)?[/quote]
I think that's a fair statement to make. It was meant to take the place of Animated GIFs back in the day, then people saw there was potential to make it do more.. and the rest, as they say, is history.
Yes, Flash has a learning curve and is picky at the best of times. But if you figure out what you want to do as a whole, then break it down into managable pieces, you CAN get through it.
Take it from people like myself, Dazztardly, Particleman, and parliboy -- you NEVER stop learning in Flash. But along the way you learn some tricks to figure out to do something a little easier, and when a new challenge comes along, there are tons of people online to ask in a multitude of forums!
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'165895\' date=\'Oct 8 2007, 05:51 AM\']
I've always used Tutorialized (http://\"http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Flash/1\") or a search engine. I had to adapt a lot of stuff to make it work (trust me, there isn't a one-stop "create a buzzer system" tutorial).
[/quote]
I'll look at those, thanks. I'm not looking for a hand-holder...I know the logic behind making a buzzer system, I just need to know how to get it to handle the hardware side of things and whatnot.
The problem with asking people online is that in the mass majority of cases, the "STFU n00b" factor of the independent programming-help forums makes our little corner of the world look positively cordial.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'165913\' date=\'Oct 8 2007, 12:57 PM\']
I'll look at those, thanks. I'm not looking for a hand-holder...I know the logic behind making a buzzer system, I just need to know how to get it to handle the hardware side of things and whatnot.
The problem with asking people online is that in the mass majority of cases, the "STFU n00b" factor of the independent programming-help forums makes our little corner of the world look positively cordial.
[/quote]
I've never used any external hardware to control my Flashes (except keyboard/mouse...duh)...so I donno what your setup needs/wants are. From prior knowledge (and light dabbling), you'll need to make any keypress received be a keystroke (assign a key to it). Then you can use the "keypress" function to do anything.
EG: press yer buzzer, it sends the "k" key. Then set up "k" do lock in.
If you destroy a joystick to do it, then use Joy2Key (http://\"http://www.electracode.com/4/joy2key/JoyToKey%20English%20Version.htm\"). Might work with other things as well.
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'165915\' date=\'Oct 8 2007, 10:09 AM\']
From prior knowledge (and light dabbling), you'll need to make any keypress received be a keystroke (assign a key to it). Then you can use the "keypress" function to do anything.
[/quote]
Yes, thank you, that would be that whole "logic" thing I've been talking about.
If you destroy a joystick to do it, then use Joy2Key (http://\"http://www.electracode.com/4/joy2key/JoyToKey%20English%20Version.htm\"). Might work with other things as well.
I've been using this for years. Rest assured, though, I'm a little beyond joystick-breaking (http://\"http://fredsmythe.com/2004/10/control-freak.html\").
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[quote name=\'MrGameShow\' post=\'165909\' date=\'Oct 8 2007, 12:26 PM\']
Yes, Flash has a learning curve and is picky at the best of times. But if you figure out what you want to do as a whole, then break it down into managable pieces, you CAN get through it.
[/quote]
I will try my best to keep the sarcasm to a minimum here, I'm a 14-year-IT professional, I sort of know how to a learn a development platform. I was just commenting on what a backwards step Flash is as a development platform compared to other ones I've used. I had the extra fun of sort of crash-learning "client-server Flash" -- trying to use a Flash ActionScript to call media from a Flash Media Server to return media. All I really needed to do was to learn enough Flash to make sure the Media Server worked.
The problem is, if you've never used Flash before, or never used the server before, you're trying to learn two environments at once. I've set up other media servers before (Windows, Real/Helix) and was able to get returned media pretty quickly. With Flash Server, it's all proprietary, can't be tested in a browser, its admin tool is a joke, and since so few people use it, finding good information on the 'Net is very difficult.
Remember, there's also a difference between programming because you want to, and programming because you have to. I'm learning Flash because my paycheck and the paycheck of others depends on it. At least now I can put Flash on the resume. I'll put it next to COBOL.
--Mike, who apologizes for those who don't care, I've had a very frustrating weekend with this, and I needed to vent, but was very happy at 10:30 this morning when I pressed the button and the CBS Special stinger finally played.
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There are a number of powerpoint game show templates out there for education. Some teachers have created them. There is WWTBAM, Hollywood Squares, Jeopardy. They aren't too bad and even use the music cues from the shows.
I've used them for team building exercises at work. They went over great!
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mmb5, I think I'll have to slightly disagree with you on just one point. I was required to produce a product using Flash within a month's time and I found it to be much more approachable than other languages and development environments I've worked with in the past. I believe beginners get better results from the beginning with Flash than, say, Visual C or Java.
I have to say I'm impressed with how far you were able to get with such a short amount of time. Good job. :) And yes, there's a big difference between having to and wanting to learn any development tool. That's why I can't stress enough to beginners to start off small and work their way to larger projects. ...if only I could go back and do it all over again...
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You can easily assign a character value to a simple button in Flash using the following:
on (keyPress=="q") {
//actions here
}
that will execute a command whenever you hit the q key, or whatever character you put there.
If you order the USB lockins from buzzers.com, they will preset each of the buzzers to a specific letter using binary switches if you ask them. They'll also give you the binary code you need to set the switches at for any other characters.
Here's the set I have, and they work fantastically:
http://www.buzzers.com/buzzer/store/produc...27c865aae8edf92 (http://\"http://www.buzzers.com/buzzer/store/product_info.php/cPath/2/products_id/7?osCsid=0cad8a3f8083fb6ed27c865aae8edf92\")
Feel free to message me if you want some help or need code to get pointed in the right direction.
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[quote name=\'Particleman\' post=\'166035\' date=\'Oct 9 2007, 06:04 AM\']
...if only I could go back and do it all over again...
[/quote]
*coughPyramidcough* :)
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[quote name=\'Particleman\' post=\'166035\' date=\'Oct 9 2007, 09:04 AM\']
mmb5, I think I'll have to slightly disagree with you on just one point. I was required to produce a product using Flash within a month's time and I found it to be much more approachable than other languages and development environments I've worked with in the past. I believe beginners get better results from the beginning with Flash than, say, Visual C or Java.
[/quote]
It would depend on what you need to do. It seems very good if you're doing stuff of little material substance, but would be cumbersome for anything beyond simple scripting. I would rank Flash ahead of Java's environment. I would not rank it ahead of .NET, or pre-.NET VB, or Delphi.
[quote name=\'Particleman\' post=\'166035\' date=\'Oct 9 2007, 09:04 AM\']
I have to say I'm impressed with how far you were able to get with such a short amount of time.
[/quote]
I wasn't. It should have taken an hour.
--Mike