Bonus Round for a New Net Game

[jmdarrall]

OK, so over Christmas, my cousin and cousin-in-law gave me a new trivia board game called "Matter of Fact."  In this game, you answer a series of 7 rapid-fire questions in a category to earn points (EX.: Do these movies star Leonardo DiCaprio or Matt Damon?).  I'd like to adapt it into a Net Game, but I'd like to try out a bonus round concept first.  Here's how it would work.

The bonus game I've thought of is reminiscent of the bonus game to the short-lived (but remarkably good) show "Every Second Counts."  As you may or may not recall, that show's bonus game was played in 4 tiers.  At each tier, the team played for an increasingly valuable prize but had to get a certain number of questions right.  The bonus game I have in mind adopts that mechanic, but adds an element of risk.  If a player does not meet the requirement to clear the tier, the player loses all money risked.  At the beginning of each tier, though, the player has a choice of two subjects, or can walk and take the money he or she has already won.

To adapt this game to a Net Game setting, there is no time limit, and all seven of the questions would be presented at once.  Once you give your answers, I'll reveal which ones were right and which were wrong.  To "clear the tier," you must answer the following number of questions correctly.

TIER 1: Answer 4 out of 7 right to win $2,500.
TIER 2: Answer 5 out of 7 right to double to $5,000.
TIER 3: Answer 6 out of 7 right to double to $10,000.
TIER 4: Answer 7 out of 7 right to double to $20,000!

So, I'd like one person to try this out, and if we're moving at a good clip, I might try a few more individuals.  Any takers?

[Deleted]

Hey Jon, this sounds interesting.  I'd be happy to help test this for you.

Cheers,
Glen

[billmcdee]

This sounds quite promising indeed Jon!

[jmdarrall]

Glen, you'll be my first guinea pig. Bill, when Glen is done, would you like to try?

[billmcdee]

You bet!

[jmdarrall]

(Applause as I stand with Glen at the bonus game podium)

ME: Welcome back! Glen has become our first champion, and has won $2,000 so far! Great work. Now, you have a chance to win up to $20,000 more! What would you do with that kind of money?

[Deleted]

Well, my brother helped me out in the past with a loan when I needed it and I'm still paying him back little by little -- this would enable me to pay him off completely in one shot!!

[jmdarrall]

ME: That's great, Glen. Always good to know that family is there when you need it. Let's get you that money, shall we? Here's how. Our bonus game is played in four tiers. In the first tier, you're playing for...

$2,500

ME: No small potatoes, for sure. Just like up front, you'll be asked a seven-part question. To win the $2,500, all you have to do is provide me FOUR correct answers. If you do that, you'll have a chance to go double or nothing on the next tier. However, the higher the reward, the higher the risk, so be careful.

ME: We will help you out by allowing you to take the money and run after any tier, and we'll also help by offering a choice of two subjects. Let's get started with the first tier, then. Your category choices are...

(Screen displays)

CLAIM TO FAME
or
TITLE TWIST

ME: Remember, in CLAIM TO FAME, I'll list famous people and you tell me the profession from two choices, and in TITLE TWIST, I'll give titles and you tell me what they are from two choices. What will be your first category?

(Audience yells suggestions)

[Deleted]

Let's go with Title Twist, please.

[jmdarrall]

ME: TITLE TWIST it is. Remember, we need four out of seven right answers from you. Ready?

(Glen nods his head YES)

ME: Here's the question (Set goes dark with spotlights shining on me and Glen only).

I'll give seven titles. Your job is to tell me if they are the titles of...

BETTE DAVIS FILMS
or
DAVID BOWIE SONGS

ME: Just answer DAVIS or BOWIE for each one. Start now!

1. Suffragette City
2. Jezebel
3. All About Eve
4. Now, Voyager
5. Changes
6. Golden Years
7. Rebel, Rebel

(Glen, just post all seven answers here, but make sure you include the number with the answer. You have 24 hours.)

[Deleted]

Excuse me Jon, can I try this after Bill gets through?

[Deleted]

1. BOWIE
2. DAVIS
3. DAVIS
4. DAVIS
5. BOWIE
6. DAVIS
7. BOWIE

[jmdarrall]

(No problem, James)

(Bells ring as Glen finishes his answers)

ME: Very good. We have all your answers, as recorded on our screen.

1. BOWIE
2. DAVIS
3. DAVIS
4. DAVIS
5. BOWIE
6. DAVIS
7. BOWIE

ME: Now, let's see which ones you got. If it was me, I'd know for certain that "All About Eve" was a movie, having tied for most Oscar nods. Let's verify #3, please, computer!

(Answer #3 turns green to verify that it's right...CLANG! Applause.)

1. BOWIE
2. DAVIS
3. DAVIS
4. DAVIS
5. BOWIE
6. DAVIS
7. BOWIE

ME: I also know that "Now, Voyager" is a romantic classic. Let's verify #4, computer!

(CLANG! Applause)

1. BOWIE
2. DAVIS
3. DAVIS
4. DAVIS
5. BOWIE
6. DAVIS
7. BOWIE

ME: ...and "Rebel, Rebel" is a rock-and-roll classic, so I'm certain #7 is right. Computer?

(CLANG! Applause)

1. BOWIE
2. DAVIS
3. DAVIS
4. DAVIS
5. BOWIE
6. DAVIS
7. BOWIE

ME: Hmmmm....let's check #6, shall we? I think that sounds like a Bette Davis, old-timer movie. Computer, is it?

(DRUM BEAT as #6 turns red...audience groans)

1. BOWIE
2. DAVIS
3. DAVIS
4. DAVIS
5. BOWIE
6. DAVIS
7. BOWIE

ME: No...it's a David Bowie song. Don't worry, we only need one more right answer to get you the money. Let's just go down the line. Was "Suffragette City" a David Bowie track, computer?

(#1 turns green...CLANG! Applause as screen shows $2,500)

1. BOWIE
2. DAVIS
3. DAVIS
4. DAVIS
5. BOWIE
6. DAVIS
7. BOWIE

$2,500

ME: Way to go, Glen! By the way, #6 was the only one you got wrong. There's $2,500 for you. Now, though, you have a chance to win...

$5,000

ME: But, when the rewards increase, so do the risks. To clear Tier 2, you must answer FIVE out of seven correctly. You can quit now, or choose one of these two subjects...

THE NAME GAME
or
FILM TIMELINE

ME: THE NAME GAME is about names in general, while FILM TIMELINE asks you to tell me when films were released. Take one of those, or quit?

(Audience yells suggestions)

[Deleted]

I'll go again, let's try Film Timeline, please.

[jmdarrall]

ME: FILM TIMELINE. Remember, we need five out of seven right answers now, or you lose the $2,500. Ready?

(Glen nods his head YES)

ME: Here's the question (Set goes dark with spotlights shining on me and Glen only).

I'll give seven film titles from the last 25 years. Your job is to tell me if they were released...

BEFORE 2000
or
AFTER 2000

ME: Just answer BEFORE or AFTER for each one. Start now!

1. The English Patient
2. Jerry Maguire
3. The King's Speech
4. Finding Nemo
5. Titanic
6. Dead Man Walking
7. Brokeback Mountain

(Once again, post all 7 here, 24 hours)

[Deleted]

1. BEFORE
2. BEFORE
3. AFTER
4. AFTER
5. BEFORE
6. AFTER
7. AFTER

[jmdarrall]

(Bells ring as Glen finishes his answers)

ME: Good, good. We have all your answers, as recorded on our screen.

1. BEFORE
2. BEFORE
3. AFTER
4. AFTER
5. BEFORE
6. AFTER
7. AFTER

ME: Once again, let's evaluate, shall we?  "Jerry Maguire", I recall everyone in the 90s shouting "Show Me The Money!" (Laughter)  That has to be right.  Let's verify #2, please, computer!

(Answer #2 turns green to verify that it's right...CLANG! Applause.)

1. BEFORE
2. BEFORE
3. AFTER
4. AFTER
5. BEFORE
6. AFTER
7. AFTER

ME: I also know that "The King's Speech" had a lot of Oscar talk back in 2010-2011.  Let's verify #3, computer!

(CLANG! Applause)

1. BEFORE
2. BEFORE
3. AFTER
4. AFTER
5. BEFORE
6. AFTER
7. AFTER

ME: "Titanic", one of my favorites.  I saw it in theaters when it first came out in 1997, so I'm certain #5 is right.  Computer?

(CLANG! Applause)

1. BEFORE
2. BEFORE
3. AFTER
4. AFTER
5. BEFORE
6. AFTER
7. AFTER

ME: Hmmmm....let's check #7, shall we?  Brokeback Mountain broke a lot of ground, so there's almost no way it could've been released before 2000.  Computer, are we right?

(CLANG!  Applause)

1. BEFORE
2. BEFORE
3. AFTER
4. AFTER
5. BEFORE
6. AFTER
7. AFTER

ME: Very nice.  One more to go.  Let's check #6, "Dead Man Walking."  I'm not too sure about that one.  Computer, was that released after 2000?

(DRUM BEAT as #6 turns red...audience groans)

1. BEFORE
2. BEFORE
3. AFTER
4. AFTER
5. BEFORE
6. AFTER
7. AFTER

ME: Uh-oh...it was released in 1995.  Don't worry, we only need one more right answer to get you the money.  Let's just go down the line.  Was "The English Patient" released BEFORE 2000, computer?

(#1 turns green...CLANG! Applause as screen shows $5,000)

1. BEFORE
2. BEFORE
3. AFTER
4. AFTER
5. BEFORE
6. AFTER
7. AFTER


$5,000


ME: Nice job, Glen! By the way, just like last time, #6 was the only one you got wrong.  Five g-bars, no problem!  Now, though, you have a chance to win...


$10,000


ME: But, when the rewards increase, so do the risks. To clear Tier 3, you must answer SIX out of seven correctly.  You can quit now, or choose one of these two subjects...

TITLE TWIST
or
WORLD TRADE

ME: We've seen a TITLE TWIST already, so I won't remind you of that.  WORLD TRADE is just straightforward questions about international trade and business.  Take one of those, or quit?

(Audience yells suggestions)

[Deleted]

I think I'll quit while I'm ahead, Jon!
(nice concept btw...look forward to seeing the show that this will go with)

[jmdarrall]

(Audience applauds)

ME: Taking the $5,000? Very well, Glen. You did a great job, with a one-day total of $7,000! You'll be back on our next program to defend your title. Thanks for joining us!

(Bill, whenever you are ready, please let me know)

[billmcdee]

All set Jon!

[jmdarrall]

(Applause as I stand with Glen at the bonus game podium)

ME: We are back from an exciting front game! Bill has become our new champion, and did so in style! Bill, you were an absolute dynamo in that game - $1,000 for winning, and an extra $2,000 for 4 perfect rounds, total of $3,000 so far! Great work. Now, you have a chance to win up to $20,000 more! What would you do with that kind of money?

[billmcdee]

I'd apply it toward my son's upcoming college tuition bills Jon.

[jmdarrall]

ME: Great to hear, Bill (Applause). I'm sure he's watching, hoping you're going to get the big money. Let's not waste any more time, yeah? Our bonus game is played in four tiers. In the first tier, you're playing for...

$2,500

ME: Just like up front, you'll be asked a seven-part question. To win the $2,500, all you have to do is provide me FOUR correct answers. If you do that, you'll have a chance to go double or nothing on the next tier. However, the higher the reward, the higher the risk, so be careful.

ME: We will help you out by allowing you to take the money and run after any tier, and we'll also help by offering a choice of two subjects. Your category choices for the first tier are...

(Screen displays)

CLAIM TO FAME
or
LEADING MEN

ME: Remember, in CLAIM TO FAME, I'll list famous people and you tell me the profession from two choices, and in LEADING MEN, I'll name some films and you tell me the lead male star, again from two choices. What will be your first category?

(Audience yells suggestions)

[billmcdee]

CLAIM TO FAME since I know next to nothing about movies.

[jmdarrall]

ME: OK, here's your CLAIM TO FAME question.

(Lights darken as spotlights shine on me and Bill.)

I'll name seven famous people. You tell me if each one is a...

CLASSICAL VIOLINIST
or
VICTORIAN NOVELIST

ME: These are easier than you think, Bill (Slight laughter). Also, you need only four right answers. Ready?

BILL: Yes.

ME: Begin now!

1. Joshua Bell
2. Anthony Trollope
3. Isaac Stern
4. Hilary Hahn
5. George Meredith
6. Vanessa Mae
7. Itzhak Perlman

(Bill, just list all seven answers here, numbered 1 to 7.)

[billmcdee]

1. Joshua Bell
2. Anthony Trollope
3. Isaac Stern
4. Hilary Hahn
5. George Meredith
6. Vanessa Mae
7. Itzhak Perlman


1. Novelist
2. Novelist
3. Violinist   
4. Violinist   
5. Novelist   
6. Violinist   
7. Violinist (the only one I knew for sure thanks to the 1986 Hollywood Squares)

[jmdarrall]

(Bells ring as Bill finishes his answers)

ME: Nicely done.  Let's post your answers on the screen.

1. Novelist
2. Novelist
3. Violinist
4. Violinist
5. Novelist
6. Violinist
7. Violinist

ME: Let's check some of them.  You said #7, Perlman, was the one you were certain of.  Well, I happen to know that he is a musician, so I know you're right.  Computer, please make it official!

(CLANG! Applause)

1. Novelist
2. Novelist
3. Violinist
4. Violinist
5. Novelist
6. Violinist
7. Violinist

ME: Good!  Now, if it were me, I'd know that Trollope was indeed a novelist.  Let's find out, shall we?  Computer, #2, please?

(CLANG! Applause)

1. Novelist
2. Novelist
3. Violinist
4. Violinist
5. Novelist
6. Violinist
7. Violinist

ME: Indeed, he is.  Those would be the only two I'd know myself, honestly.  Let's check #1, Joshua Bell.  Sounds like a novelist to me.  Computer, was he?

(DRUM BEAT.  Audience groans.)

1. Novelist
2. Novelist
3. Violinist
4. Violinist
5. Novelist
6. Violinist
7. Violinist

ME: Uh-oh.  He wasn't.  He's been a professionally recorded violinist since 1988.  One of his most recent recordings was with Sting.  Let's hope this isn't a sign of bad things.  Hmmm...let's use a little logic.  #6, Vanessa Mae...doesn't sound like a novelist to me.  Computer, was Bill right to say VIOLINIST?

(CLANG! Applause)

1. Novelist
2. Novelist
3. Violinist
4. Violinist
5. Novelist
6. Violinist
7. Violinist

ME: You were.  One more to go.  I think we can apply the same line of logic to #4, Hilary Hahn.  Are we right, computer?

(CLANG! Applause)

1. Novelist
2. Novelist
3. Violinist
4. Violinist
5. Novelist
6. Violinist
7. Violinist

$2,500

ME: You got it, man!  Nicely done!  By the way, #1 was the only one you missed.  Not bad, eh?  Now, you've got the right to try for...

$5,000

ME: You can leave now and take the $2,500, or choose one of these two subjects.  If you play on, you must answer FIVE out of seven parts correctly to win the money.  Here are your subjects.

CLAIM TO FAME
or
WORLD TRADE

ME: We've seen CLAIM TO FAME before, so I won't explain it.  WORLD TRADE is straightforward questions on world business and international trade.  What's your move, Bill?

(Audience yells suggestions)

[billmcdee]

It was good for me last time, so I'll stick with CLAIM TO FAME again please.

I'm amazed that I missed only one!  I wish I could carry 2 of those answers over into this round

[jmdarrall]

ME: Another CLAIM TO FAME. Why not? This one may actually be easier, now that I look at it.

This time, I'll name seven famous people and you tell me if he is a famous American...

PLAYWRIGHT
or
JAZZ SAXOPHONIST

ME: Just answer PLAYS or SAX. Ready? Start with...

1. Charlie Parker
2. Edward Albee
3. David Mamet
4. Eugene O'Neill
5. John Coltrane
6. Stan Getz
7. Thornton Wilder

[billmcdee]

1. SAX
2. PLAYS
3. SAX
4. PLAYS
5. SAX
6. SAX
7. PLAYS