Post by walker7 on Jun 5, 2018 21:53:01 GMT -5
In this thread you can post your own ideas for game shows.
Here's one I thought of: An adaption of the Intellivision game "Bomb Squad."
For those unfamiliar, this is for reference: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLguCUMi4BQ
This is an hour-long game show. The host might be Tom Papa, since he hosted "BOOM!" Although the original game required the player to identify a 1- to 3-digit numeric code, the premise is to defuse bombs by identifying a mystery ASCII character behind a grid. The show could open with the iconic voice "Mattel Electronics presents... Bomb Squad!"
The game is played in 5 rounds, and with 3 players. There is also a gallery of different-colored envelopes, each housing a round setup (ASCII character, reward, time limit, etc.). The players use these envelopes to determine the game setup.
Round 1: Classic Bomb Squad. All 3 players choose their envelopes, then they play in turn. The player goes to a touchscreen. On the screen is a grid of numbered squares. After the player selects a square, they must solve a circuit by replacing parts with the correct parts (this may require trial-and-error; also, the process is more streamlined for TV).
If the player successfully solves the circuit, the chosen square turns to a light or dark color. If unsuccessful, it turns black. Once enough squares are revealed, the lit squares form an ASCII character.
The player solves as many squares within a random time limit. At any time, if the player figures out the character, they can hit a big red buzzer next to the touchscreen, stop the clock, and go to the big keypad to register their guess at the ASCII character.
The big keypad has buttons the size of those in "Get the Picture"'s Mega Memory keypad. The contestant presses the button corresponding to their guess.
If the ASCII guess is correct, the entire board uncovers to show the character, the bomb is defused, and the contestant gets a reward (money or a prize). If the guess is wrong, the player goes back to the board; however, a second wrong guess at the character will blow the bomb up. If time runs out, the player gets a last-ditch effort to guess at the character; if the guess is wrong, the bomb blows up.
After play ends, the board will reveal items behind the lit squares (usually money); the player gets everything behind the solved squares regardless of whether the contestant saved the bomb or not.
If the bomb blows up, the set turns an orange color, an explosion goes off, and a little bit of smoke enters into the studio.
Round 2: This round tests code point recognition. A grid is shown, and a small portion is revealed. The players then lock in their guesses using touchscreens. The players then announce which ASCII character they chose, and that character and its hexadecimal code appears on their podium. For this reason, the host could say something like: "All of our characters use hexadecimal codes; that's base 16, not base 10." The correct answer is shown, and its hex code is revealed. Whoever is closest to the hex code gets some money, and whoever is second-closest gets less money. If two players are equidistant from the hex code, the rewards are combined and split evenly between those players. (The rewards are some portion of the envelope's monetary rewards from round 1.) Seven ASCII characters are played.
Round 3: Just like round 1, except with higher dollar values behind the grid squares.
Round 4: A speed round. Each player selects 5 envelopes, which will contain the ASCII characters that the players will decipher. When the clock starts, squares randomly turn light or dark, revealing a character. The player's job is to go to the big keypad and press the buttons. When the button corresponding to the right character is pressed, the character reveals itself, the player gets money, and moves onto the next character. If the player identifies 5 characters before time runs out, the bomb is defused, and the player gets bonus money. If time runs out, the bomb blows up. (The time limit depends on the size of the grid; also, the rewards are a portion of the envelopes' rewards from round 1.)
Round 5: Just like round 1, except with even higher dollar values than in Round 3 behind the grid squares.
The player with the most money becomes the champion. If there is a tie, one ASCII character is played like in round 2. Whichever is closest to the character's hex code becomes the champion.
Bonus Round: This works like round 4, except the champion has to identify 6 ASCII characters before time expires. As before, the player chooses envelopes to determine the characters, and the player uses the big keypad to enter their guesses. If the player is successful, he/she wins a jackpot which starts at $10,000 and increases by $2,500 each time it isn't won. If time runs out, a big explosion occurs, the screen shakes, the studio turns a brownish color, and a lot of smoke comes in.
Regardless of the bonus round outcome, the champion returns on the next show. If the player wins 10 games, they win a new car.
Notes:
Here's one I thought of: An adaption of the Intellivision game "Bomb Squad."
For those unfamiliar, this is for reference: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLguCUMi4BQ
This is an hour-long game show. The host might be Tom Papa, since he hosted "BOOM!" Although the original game required the player to identify a 1- to 3-digit numeric code, the premise is to defuse bombs by identifying a mystery ASCII character behind a grid. The show could open with the iconic voice "Mattel Electronics presents... Bomb Squad!"
The game is played in 5 rounds, and with 3 players. There is also a gallery of different-colored envelopes, each housing a round setup (ASCII character, reward, time limit, etc.). The players use these envelopes to determine the game setup.
Round 1: Classic Bomb Squad. All 3 players choose their envelopes, then they play in turn. The player goes to a touchscreen. On the screen is a grid of numbered squares. After the player selects a square, they must solve a circuit by replacing parts with the correct parts (this may require trial-and-error; also, the process is more streamlined for TV).
If the player successfully solves the circuit, the chosen square turns to a light or dark color. If unsuccessful, it turns black. Once enough squares are revealed, the lit squares form an ASCII character.
The player solves as many squares within a random time limit. At any time, if the player figures out the character, they can hit a big red buzzer next to the touchscreen, stop the clock, and go to the big keypad to register their guess at the ASCII character.
The big keypad has buttons the size of those in "Get the Picture"'s Mega Memory keypad. The contestant presses the button corresponding to their guess.
If the ASCII guess is correct, the entire board uncovers to show the character, the bomb is defused, and the contestant gets a reward (money or a prize). If the guess is wrong, the player goes back to the board; however, a second wrong guess at the character will blow the bomb up. If time runs out, the player gets a last-ditch effort to guess at the character; if the guess is wrong, the bomb blows up.
After play ends, the board will reveal items behind the lit squares (usually money); the player gets everything behind the solved squares regardless of whether the contestant saved the bomb or not.
If the bomb blows up, the set turns an orange color, an explosion goes off, and a little bit of smoke enters into the studio.
Round 2: This round tests code point recognition. A grid is shown, and a small portion is revealed. The players then lock in their guesses using touchscreens. The players then announce which ASCII character they chose, and that character and its hexadecimal code appears on their podium. For this reason, the host could say something like: "All of our characters use hexadecimal codes; that's base 16, not base 10." The correct answer is shown, and its hex code is revealed. Whoever is closest to the hex code gets some money, and whoever is second-closest gets less money. If two players are equidistant from the hex code, the rewards are combined and split evenly between those players. (The rewards are some portion of the envelope's monetary rewards from round 1.) Seven ASCII characters are played.
Round 3: Just like round 1, except with higher dollar values behind the grid squares.
Round 4: A speed round. Each player selects 5 envelopes, which will contain the ASCII characters that the players will decipher. When the clock starts, squares randomly turn light or dark, revealing a character. The player's job is to go to the big keypad and press the buttons. When the button corresponding to the right character is pressed, the character reveals itself, the player gets money, and moves onto the next character. If the player identifies 5 characters before time runs out, the bomb is defused, and the player gets bonus money. If time runs out, the bomb blows up. (The time limit depends on the size of the grid; also, the rewards are a portion of the envelopes' rewards from round 1.)
Round 5: Just like round 1, except with even higher dollar values than in Round 3 behind the grid squares.
The player with the most money becomes the champion. If there is a tie, one ASCII character is played like in round 2. Whichever is closest to the character's hex code becomes the champion.
Bonus Round: This works like round 4, except the champion has to identify 6 ASCII characters before time expires. As before, the player chooses envelopes to determine the characters, and the player uses the big keypad to enter their guesses. If the player is successful, he/she wins a jackpot which starts at $10,000 and increases by $2,500 each time it isn't won. If time runs out, a big explosion occurs, the screen shakes, the studio turns a brownish color, and a lot of smoke comes in.
Regardless of the bonus round outcome, the champion returns on the next show. If the player wins 10 games, they win a new car.
Notes:
- There are many different 8x8 fonts that can be used, such as the Apple ][ font (which uses a 5x8 grid), or the classic arcade/NES font (which uses a 7x7 grid).
- There are many different character sets that can be used, not just ASCII. I referred to it as ASCII for brevity.
- The envelopes are displayed in a grid on the set, and each one contains a little card with a magnetic strip that encodes all the information about the game setup. Contestants may choose these envelopes during the show, or during commercial breaks. These cards are scanned into the machine before the player starts playing.
- Envelope colors can be made in a variety of ways, such as tinting white paint with food coloring.
- In rounds 1, 3, and 5, the board starts with some squares already revealed; the contestant gets the money from these squares automatically.
- If the player is lucky enough, they could win one million dollars, or in rare cases, one billion dollars (like in Pepsi's Play for a Billion). Any wins like these are insured.
- Contestants of all ages can play, like on "Starcade." Young people may win cash or prizes in place of cars.
That's it for Bomb Squad; I might think of updating it later. As always, you can post your ideas for new game shows in this thread.
