I'd assume linking to PDFs is acceptable?

Travel Tin
3rd Edition

Just off the top of my head, shows I'd rather see in the United States before Goldenballs include Krypton Factor, Crystal Maze, Only Connect, Mastermind, University Challenge, Countdown, Fifteen to One, Number One...golly gee whiz, I could go on...

I don't understand the allure of stud poker and The Weakest Link crossed with Friend or Foe. I further don't get how that particular game would be interesting enough to merit a home play version.

That doesn't answer my question, though....oh, I just now found it. I missed the "Quick Picks" link.

Because it's called something that make men from 6 to 60 giggle uncontrollably?

Approves

/some are held for charity
//and some for fancy dress

Clearly the winner for "best UK import" would need to be the "Numberwang Play Numberwang at Home Numberwang Board Game".

/Goldenballs for Wii? Bah humbug.

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/428654

True, but no 400-sided die, authentic hosting accessories, and massive rule books, so you can say "Numberwang!" with confidence!

Thing is, all those shows require the players to use that thing on their shoulders as something more than a hat rack, and unfortunately, the average American has stopped doing that by the time they leave school.

Fairly easy and too-common potshot at "average Americans" notwithstanding, I just don't get why home versions of pure-luck games hold any appeal at all. I'm not talking about the lack of mental stimulation, I play mindless arcade-style games online all the time, . I'm talking about the fact that you're simply not doing anything. Even when I'm wasting time with Bubbleshooter, I at least have control over the result based on what I do.

And sometimes I like to turn my brain off for a while. But in that case I'd actually watch an episode of The Deal. I'm not going to play the game myself.

In all the time I have spent in the game aisle of various department stores, I have never once seen someone pick up a game show home game and leave with it. The group of people who actually get jollies from 'pretending to be the Banker' must be just big enough to warrant production.

You might enjoy Bubble Town.

I think it comes down to how you play it as well. When DoND was first popular, we would have 'Deal Nights', where we would have one person be the banker (phone and all), we would have a 'host', and a 'contestant', and a couple of friends to wait their turn to play. It was fun in that format. However, I couldn't see anyone just opening up the Pressman version of the game and having a good time. It doesn't feel strong enough to be a home game.

I genuinely, honestly don't see how. Unless you had some kind of door prize for whoever "won" the most, and even then, that becomes a pretty rote exercise after the first player.

Can't a group of people just have a good time? I have fun playing the DOND game on my computer once in a while. I can't explain how or why, but I just do. Some things just are. Maybe it's kind of like how I enjoy watching pro wrestling. I know they're not really fighting and I know I'm not really going to win any money, but it's fun to pass the time and suspend disbelief.

If there was the *least little* modicum of skill or knowledge involved, I'd understand. There isn't.

To each their own. I'm just saying that it doesn't make a damned bit of sense to me. Playing Jeopardy? Sure. Picking random briefcases in a gambling game with all of the gambling stripped out of it? Nope.

A variation on Million Dollar Password, featuring unscrambles, is now available for iPhone/iPod Touch for $4.99. It's also available on AT&T Mobile and will be soon released for PC and all mobile carriers. From screenshots, it appears to contain the $250,000 save haven. Also, a really cool feature is "party mode", which allows you to play the MDP money ladder with your friends and competing teams.

I bought it, and everything about the game is really, really good. Sound is great and all of the appropriate music and sounds are there, graphics are awesome [if not a bit cartoony]. I'd say it's well worth it, especially for the whole "Password in a box" multiplayer aspect.

It does look pretty cool. Here's the website for the mobile version:

http://mobile.gamehouse.com/password/

Speaking of Million Dollar Password, I finally saw the box game over the weekend, at my local Borders bookstore, for $24.99!

That's a good sign, that means it might be sub-$20 at the discount stores, since Borders tends to carry game-type stuff at MSRP.

New iPhone/iPod touch games:

Million Dollar Password 2009 by RealArcade and The Price is Right by Ludia.

Both are $4.99.

They're downloading as we speak, so I'll edit this with a quick review later.

If you're interested in MDP and any other game Borders has to offer (and they really up their selection for the holidays,) here's a coupon.

Also of note: the Cash Cab board game is available at Borders for $21.99. Thanks to a combo of reward certificates and a coupon, I was able to snag it for -$3.03.

/never pay full price at Borders, kids
//a small piece of advice from a former employee of 3 1/2 years

Wait, they paid you to buy it?

I had a 30% off coupon, which took it down to $16.97 after Ridiculous Chicago Sales Tax. I used $20 in Borders Reward Certificates, which I get for using my Borders Visa Card. The clerk gave me back my $3.03 change in cash. So, in essence, yes.

Very cool. I play that game with my Best Buy points all the time, though they don't let you go below zero. I've learned if I want a $19.99 DVD with a $20 card, I have to buy a candy bar. Still fun.

Wasn't this done here first as (GE) College Bowl (or are the rules significantly different)?

If anyone is truly, truly desperate, some Wal-Marts in Canada are now selling Moment of Truth box games for $5, marked down from $30something.

Ryan :)

(who figured $30 was better spent buying a region free dvd player at said Wal-Mart)

University Challenge IS College Bowl. The British version just ended up being more successful than its American inspiration. The rules may have changed a little in the intervening decades, but not much.

And they made a pretty nifty home game for it, no less.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Character-Options-...0065&sr=8-2

I'd be so happy if I could find two of these and rig them together.

"How about 'World's Stupidest Bottom Burp'? Vyvian, Britain?"

"Says Rick here."

/can you, like, kill yourself with laxative pills

Not significant, no. And the rules that are different are close enough in spirit that the game is the same. (I don't recall if a neg incurred a five point fine on College Bowl, but UC's bonuses are always three questions for five each. And they always have two picture and one music identification rounds. Other than that, it's CB with Continental accents.

Neg 5s for interrupting are in College Bowl, as well. Only difference on bonus questions is that they're one of either 20, 25, or 30, and the questions in each bonus itself can vary in point amount.

Merv Griffin's Crosswords for the Wii is in stores. It appears to be in most Best Buys in this area; you can find availability in your area on Best Buy's site. The price is just $20. In addition, a new version of TV Show King, called TV Show King Party, is out for the Wii. It doesn't appear to be vastly different than the TV Show King version available on WiiWare, except for the $30 price tag.

The local BBY also had a 3-pack of DVD games in a tin box--Millionaire, Deal or No Deal, and Press Your Luck. I can't give you a price since I didn't see one on the shelf and I didn't feel like hunting down a floor associate to find me the price.

I'll bite for $20. Good price point for the content.

Speaking of content...look at the ESRB content descriptor for said game: Mild Suggestive Themes, Tobacco Reference.

...huh?

I'd guess at least one of the clues has to do with the topic of tobacco.

Just like the TPiR video game has an "alcohol reference" for offering a wine cart and wine refrigerator IUFB.

In fact that's how it used to be in the UK as well during the Gascoigne years, but in the BBC remake it's always been 10 + 3x5 (with a few very rare instances when it first transferred of having a list based question with points being given out depending on how much they successfully name). Goodness, it's been on the BBC for almost 15 years, now.

Actually, towards the end of the ITV run they tried to mix it up with some sort of "pass the stick" thing, but nobody remembers it very well.

Maybe the manual suggests sparking one up to get through the mind-numbing tedium of the game.

Approves

If you can turn off spoilers, do that. Makes the game much better (experience from PC game).

Having dropped a portrait of Andrew Jackson on the Wii game (thank you $30 winning Deal or No Deal scratcher), I can tell you that's not the case with the Wii game.

We've gotten to the point in this country where we have to warn on the mere MENTION of tobacco?

Thanks a lot, Bill.

I don't recall if the Sesame Street DVD sets cut out the 'offending material' or put up a warning, but I remember hearing about that because of a handful of Monsterpiece Theatre bits from that era.

/Because when I saw Cookie Monster in his smoking jacket toting his pipe, it was all I could do to not spark up a fat blunt.

There's a "warning" on those Old School DVDs that they are more intended for reminiscing adults and that teaching methods and preschool practices from the 60s may not apply today.

You misspelled "Joe."

Oh that republicrat.

/Asinine is "Alcohol Reference" for a wine refrigerator
//Just gimme the price
///Don't give a damn what's in it

You'd really do a lot better here if you just spoke less.

From 5 AM to 1 PM tomorrow, this 3-pack will be $19.99 at Toys R Us.

Tomorrow, Sears will have the AYSTA5G? Wii game for $19.99.

Add to the list that TRU will have Family Feud and DoND tabletop games for $9.99 each.

Walgreens also has most of this past year's GS DVD game (PYL, DOND, FF, WWTBAM) for $14.99 each until Saturday night.