Coming soon: The Jackpot Game

[dougmorrisontheair]

(old Vegas music plays in background)

Burton Richardson: The team that brought you The Big Risk brings you a game with more risks, higher stakes and, unfortunately, this guy...

Burton Richardson: Doug Morris and Dirty Harry run -- The Jackpot Game! Coming this fall.

[blackwoodcompany]

I hope that this is not like Shopper's Casino

[billmcdee]

With Doug in charge, it won't be Darion.  Doug is the 2015 Net Game Award winner for best host, and rightfully so!

It is amusing though that the dealer in the screen grab is from Shopper's Casino.  I only like that episode because there's something cozy about how hokey it is, plus I'm a fan of M*A*S*H and it's amusing to see Igor's portrayer, Jeff Maxwell, trying to be a host.  Talk about a fish out of water

[billmcdee]

I'm loving the title font too Doug.  It says to me "Casino" and "1970s" all wrapped up into one, plus green is my favorite color!

[dougmorrisontheair]

Okay, let me ease a few fears. "Shopper's Casino" is, in my book, the worst game show ever. "The Thousand Dollar Bee" is a close second; it has an admittedly unfair advantage in the production values that the technology of "Bee's" time provided. "Bee" also had more skill -- compared to "Shopper's", which had players just making bets and hoping for the best.

The only elements I'm taking from "Shopper's" are Harry (I used him on The Big Risk version 2.0 in the netgame universe I once managed) and certain casino games (Blackjack, Routlette, etc.).

The Jackpot Game will have a question-and-answer element. Winner of a toss-up question gets a chance to bet on casino action. Then after about five or six rounds, there's a game of chance all three contestants get to play. Second half of play basically plays like the first half only with double the stakes.

Overall winner gets a chance to hit the jackpot with a game that resembles the bonus round from the unsold pilot "King of the Hill".

Hope to host a pilot soon.  I'm still "designing the set".

[tmann3x]

When I think of the word "Jackpot", I was thinking about this theme... LOL

[blackwoodcompany]

Thank you for clearing things up, Doug.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Tony, I knew someone would bring up that other Jackpot game.

Tony, BTW, helped with the soundtrack of TJG. Better heard than explained. I'm also working on that.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Update: The Jackpot Game is going through some retooling even before a "proper" pilot.

Inside story: Even before I joined this net game forum, before I "started a series" or even launched a pilot on a net game forum, I'd simulate a game through dice rolls, coin tosses, etc., to simulate players buzzing in and making certain other moves in the game.

That's basically what I'm doing right now with The Jackpot Game. (If any of you have played Dice Football, you have some idea of how I've rolled, pardon the pun.)

Until recently, the main part of The Jackpot Game was played much like the first three seasons of "Fandango" on the original incarnation of The Nashville Network. Player wins points on a toss-up question -- then wagers some or all of his/her score on a question from the bonus board. Then, when time is called to end a round, there's a final question worth an additional 50 points (with a 50-point penalty for a wrong answer in Round 2).

For those who remember those days, a pretty good chunk of the time, the game was a runaway when time was called in Round 2. Unfortunately, the same can be said in the planning stages of The Jackpot Game.

Over the weekend, I came up with a better format which reduces the chances of, but doesn't necessarily eliminate, a runaway victory. I'll disclose those changes later.

As a result of rule changes, the rules sheet must be revised (almost done). And I'm almost done with artwork, sound effects, etc.

Barring any setbacks, we should have a pilot here at NGC next week.

Speaking of a pilot, a question for the moderators. Would I host the pilot for The Jackpot Game in "The Workshop" or its ultimate destination of Channel 1?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Update: Rules sheet now online at www.dougmorris.net/jackpot .

Still got a lot left on "the to-do list". Still shooting to start a pilot next week.

[Deleted]

Nice set of rules. Look forward to seeing them in action.

[billmcdee]

I began reading them.  Indeed very involved, but will make more sense when played.  It's the old "one picture is worth 1,000 words" kind of deal (no pun intended on saying "deal").

From what I can tell Doug, this game is going to be nothing short of magnificent, and I for one cannot wait to see it in action.

I realize all of those rules and intricacies are akin to doing a rule sheet for "The Price is Right" and including the rules of all 75 pricing games, plus Contestants' Row, the Showcase Showdown rules and the Showcase as well.

Very splendid and your attention to detail is but one reason why you truly earned the best net game show host award for 2015 Doug.

I will probably watch an episode first then participate as a contestant in game 2, only because I will be away for 4 or 5 days later on this month.

One final and totally unrelated thing.  I positively loved your "wallpaper" that you used for your rule sheet.  I was wondering if I could perhaps have permission to borrow that for Gambit in the future?


With thanks, awe, and eager anticipation,

Bill

[dougmorrisontheair]

Help yourself to the wallpaper, Bill. Thanks for the kind words.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Updated rules sheet now online at www.dougmorris.net/jackpot .

Biggest rule change: There are betting limits instead of being forced to risk half ($50-$500 in the first half; $500-$1000 in the second). However, the half-ending Jackpot Slots and Jackpot Stakes still require a bet of at least half.

Barring the unforeseen, we should start a pilot this weekend.