Game Show Presenter Help

Welcome to Al Morale's Game Show Presenter -- The Playback Edition! (Help file for Game Show Player application.)

Game Show Presenter helps you add fun to things that are hard to learn by presenting quizzes, tests and reviews as a funny, TV-style game show! The idea is simple -- if it's fun, people pay close attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.: How do I add or remove a quiz from the menu of quizzes?

A.: The files containing the game show quizzes are kept in a quiz folder. When you installed the program, it put sample quizzes into that folder. So to remove the samples or add other quizzes to the program, all you need to do is add or remove the quiz file in that folder. (The quiz files all have a .cxt extension on them and they are created by the PLUS Edition of Game Show Presenter.) By default, the quiz folder is named "Quiz Folder" and it is in the same folder as the Game Show Player program. (You can change the designed quiz folder using the Quiz Folder command under the QUIZ menu.).

Q.: How do I create new quizzes?

A.: Game Show Presenter PLUS Edition is used to create quiz show files for this product. It is required to edit most of the settings and the questions. It is sold separately at www.gameshowplus.com.

Q.: How does Buzz-In work?

A.: If you have more than one player, then each player is assigned a buzz-in key so you can compete to answer questions. When you first sign-in, the program will tell you your buzzer keys. (Normally, it is the 1 key for player 1, 2 for player 2, on up to 0 for the 10th player. But depending on how the quiz author set the file, your buzzer keys may vary. The program will tell you your buzzer keys after sign-in.) Note: If there is only one player, buzz-in is automatic when you press an answer key.

Q.: What if nobody buzzes in?

A.: If nobody buzzes in, PASS the question by clicking the arrow button in the top right corner of the screen.

Q.: How do players answer questions?

A.: To answer a multiple-choice question, type the A, B, C, D or E key on the keyboard. For a short answer question, press the SPACEBAR to bring up the answer box where you can type your short answer. It must match exactly (except for capitalization) with what the quiz author typed as the correct answer, so be careful.

Q.: If the first answer is wrong, can other players buzz in?

A.: Yes, if the quiz author enabled multiple guesses on each question, then after a wrong guess the question is thrown open again for buzz-in and answer. However, the question may be worth less points on each additional answer (again depending on how the author setup the quiz file options).

Q.: Can I use the numeric keypad to buzz-in?

A.: Yes, if the game show file is set to use number keys for buzz-in, the keypad should work as well as the number keys at the top of the keyboard. Just be sure the Num Lock key is on so the keypad is not sending cursor control commands instead of number key presses.

Overview

The Game Show Presenter PLUS Edition (sold separately) is used to create customized game shows based on your questions. (That version is also good for live presentations.) The version you have here is the Playback Only edition. It uses the Game Show Player application to play the quiz files created by the other edition. With Game Show Player, you can run the quizzes on one or a group of computers. It does not give access to the quiz editor or the advanced settings of Game Show Presenter. But it can record quiz scores in various locations, such as to a network file or FTP server.

After a normal installation, you can start the program from your START menu under Programs > Game Show Player. The set-up program also puts a shortcut on your desktop.

When Game Show Player opens, first you see the loading and introduction screens. Then you see the main screen that shows a listing of any quiz files found in the program's designated quiz folder. You can easily add quizzes to the opening menu just by adding them to that quiz folder.

The software runs in trial mode if it is not registered. That means you can try out playing quiz show files (there is no time limit), but the words DEMO SHOW will appear during the show. When you purchase a license and register the software, you receive codes that make that message go away. (For purchase information, click the Purchase button in the welcome screen.)

Getting Started

The main screen of the Game Show Player In the main screen (shown here), select the quiz you want to play and click PLAY. Quizzes shown in that menu are files in the designated quiz folder.

Once a game show is underway, there is a sign-in screen where the player can enter his or her name. Clicking on the Players button also allows selection for more than one person to play. If more than one person is playing, then buzzer mode applies. In that case, players compete to answer each question. They will use a designated key to buzz-in, such as the 1 key for player 1, 2 key for player 2, etc. (After sign-in is completed, player will be advised on their buzz-in keys.)

To play, a question appears and players use their buzzer keys to claim it if they want to answer. The name of the person who buzzed in first appears at the top after buzz-in. That player then uses the letter keys to answer for multiple choices (a,b,c,d and e keys), or for short answer questions, the player presses the spacebar to open a box where they can type a short answer to a question. Capitalization does not matter, but everything else must be an exact match with the short answer that the quiz understands to be correct. For example, if the question is "What is 2 + 2?" If the quiz author typed "4" as the correct answer, then if a player types "four" it will be counted as wrong.

Normally, quizzes are set to deduct points if a wrong answer is given and to reduce the points a question is worth after each wrong answer. However, the author of the quiz can override those default settings.

If no player wants to guess at a question. players can PASS on the question by pressing the ARROW button in the upper right corner by the question. No points are deducted for a PASS, unless a player has already buzzed in. By buzzing in, a player claims the right to answer. But the player will lose points if he passes the question after claiming it.

Playing a Quiz Show

Once you start a game show, the game may ask for you to sign-in as a player. You can also use the PLAYERS button to have more than one player. If your quiz results are being used by a teacher or trainer, be sure to enter your full name or other identification. This is the name that will show with your final score.

To answer quiz questions, if there is more than one player, first someone must buzz in. (If nobody buzzes in, PASS the question by clicking the arrow button in the top right corner of the screen. When just one player is playing, there is no need to buzz in. To answer a multiple-choice question, type the A, B, C, D or E key on the keyboard. For a short answer question, press the SPACEBAR to bring up the answer box where you can type your short answer. It must match exactly (except for capitalization) with what the quiz author typed as the correct answer, so be careful.

Preferences

The PREFERENCES menu holds the commands that give you some control over how the game show plays. The original Preference settings are created by the person who made the quiz file, but you can make changes as noted below:

Skip Show Intro: When this item has a checkmark, the game show skips the entire intro sequence of every show. When this is on, the game show will open with either the player "Sign In" screen or the start of Round 1 (whichever the quiz author originally selected). Note: This menu item cannot be changed while a quiz show is underway.

Use Manual Advance button checkbox is useful when you want to pause after a question's correct answer is revealed. If this box is checked, the game will pause after each answer is shown during the quiz. A small arrow button appears at the top of the screen. Click that button (or hit the RETURN key) when you're ready to continue.

Show Volume: Use this command to open a sound volume control. Keep in mind this is only software control over the Game Show Player audio and if you have problems with audio being too loud or soft, you may need to adjust your sound at the system level or on some hardware.

Slide the control to adjust the overall sound level of the game show. This feature CAN be used while a show is underway.

Score Logs

The scoreboard shown during the game has your points score as well as how many you got right out of the total number of questions you were asked.

The main screen of the Game Show Player also has a blue button to review your recent scores.

Support and Contacts

Contacts: We invite your comments and suggestions! Here's how to reach us:

Email contacts are on the web:

Web site: www.almorale.com

New products and updates: Find out what's new! This page is where we announce new products, updates and other news.

Snail mail: Bodine Training Games LLC, 8417 Hallet, Lenexa, KS 66215 USA

Phone: 1-913-492-7709

This documentation and software is © 2000-2007, Bodine Training Games LLC. All rights reserved. For permission to distribute the evaluation version of Game Show Presenter or our other software products, or for any other business matters, contact us by email or phone.

Al Morale is a trademark of Bodine Training Games LLC. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft and Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc. Director and Made with Macromedia are trademarks of Macromedia, Inc.