New Countdown game

[Nil Satis]

I spotted this today on one of the large oval Gamesnets and thought for a few seconds that they had brought back my all-time favourite game (for the sheer enjoyment of playing it as opposed to profitability, although that one wasn't a slouch in paying terms if you caught it right). This game is however a brand new one but for once I can find almost nothing at fault with it.

In fact, I would go so far as to say it could become a classic in all but one aspect (see below). The game is very faithful to the TV programme in that there are three sections, and all are properly skill-based. In each one you aim to gain points to move you along a prize board, with higher points awarded for word length etc. The three games are:

(A) The Letters Game

You answer questions to win between 1 and 5 letters and then once you have 9 you pick an assortment of vowels and consonants in order to then make a word. Nice features here are that you do get to choose the letters one-by-one, and so can change the mix based on what comes out, and that you are given the best possible word that was available from your chosen letters once you have submitted your word. One note of warning - it seems you only get one chance to submit a word so you get 0 points if your word is rejected.

(B) The Numbers Game

Again you need to answer a few questions before reaching the game, which is very similar to the TV show in that you can choose the assortment of big and small numbers (with a maximum of 4 big ones) and you then have to get as close as possible to the random three-digit total. The nice feature here is that you are shown how the exact total was achievable (at least it did so in all the games I played, but maybe it shows you how to get as near as possible if it isn't actually achievable).

(C) The Conundrum

Again, the same as the TV show in that you have the 9 letter anagram to solve once you have answered the qualifying questions. I found these quite tricky - GUACAMOLE and CARRYALLS were two I had (neither of which I got in the time allowed). It's also a little tricky to submit the answer as you have to 'drag and drop' the letters into the answer grid.

All in all, it's really well put together and I think it will appear to a wide audience, not just to all you word game addicts (not mentioning any names!).

The only downside? Well, from the points structure and the standard of the questions I don't think it's going to be lucrative in either the short or long term but I'm afraid I share foxy's pessimism on that score (http://fruitchat.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4480) - I think the days when nearly every decent pub had a quiz machine and nearly every machine was worth playing at some point in its 'cycle' are disappearing. I don't think we are ever again going to see games that will offer decent, reliable prizes to those with the knowledge and skills and the dedication to put in the hours. I'd love to be proven wrong but I just don't see things changing. Still, it's been fun while it's lasted...

[Guest]

Sounds good - does it have a high score board?

[WaterGate]

So? Great game but plays like a bag?

[Istenem]

sounds excellent, no doubt i'll have to wait six months before it reaches the nation's capital unless the yokels and bumpkins find a way to win on it in which case i will whistle in the wind.

[Cardinal Sin]

It does sound pretty good. I've no objection to games which are fun to play, but only realistically pay out a quid or two in profit.

You should look on it another way, UP, all the halfwits in other parts of the country are probing and testing all these new games on your behalf. By the time it does reach you, you'll know whether it's worth 50p to play or not.

[Nil Satis]

Sounds good - does it have a high score board?

I don't think it has a High Scores board at the moment, although given that all the industry insiders read this , hopefully the creators will revise the game slightly to include that. Anything that encourages repeat plays should be good in terms of keeping the prize structure relatively achievable.

So? Great game but plays like a bag?

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but a simple summary is that it seems to be an excellent adaptation of the TV game but one that won't offer any reasonable chance of decent profits even for the skilled player. I'm basing this mainly on the similarity of the prize structure and how you achieve it to so many recent games, none of which have for me provided any realistic chance of winning more than £1-£2.

I've no objection to games which are fun to play, but only realistically pay out a quid or two in profit.

I guess I'm greedy but I'd like games to be both (or at least for there to be both types available!).

[Istenem]

saw this for the first time yesterday, it seems to be unutterably difficult to win anything.
i got the longest possible word, screwed up on the sums (no surprise there) and got the conundrum but was still nowhere near a quid. maybe i caught it at a bad time but games requiring similar skills were golden tits.

[Cardinal Sin]

When I played it, it was sitting around 1400-2000 for the £1. Not the easiest game in the world, the dictionary is pretty tight (no random -ER words... just like in Countdown).

The numbers game always seems to give the 75.

The Conundrum: If you can't guess it, you can just pick up a letter and hover it over each of the positions. It will turn green when you have it over the correct position. I've solved a few conundrums without having a clue what the word was.

Oh, and you can carry on after you get the conundrum for another round. Never gone past the 2nd conundrum though.

[Istenem]

just remembered the dictionary is poor; it doesn't recognise ELATE, granted it is a poor word for only five letters but that suzi dent needs to have a word.