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1 vs 100-style game shows possible on Xbox One
While no such thing is planned for the Xbox One launch window later this year, Microsoft Studios VP Phil Spencer isn't ruling out the possibility of video game shows like 1 vs 100 for the Xbox One. Microsoft learned "a ton" from 1 vs 100 about bringing "hundreds of thousands of people together in a virtual game environment and have them play with each other and give away real prizes," Spencer told OXM. "I think that's a category that lends itself to our kind of community and interactivity," but he added no such thing would likely make launch. "We'll see how our timelines go." 1 vs 100 was a big hit with the Joystiq staff when it launched in 2010. 1 vs 100 was a weekly free game show played through Xbox Live at a specific time, where contestants could win real prizes. Microsoft pulled the plug in July of that year, though ex-host Chris Cashman was kind enough to produce a goodbye video of sorts.
Best of the Rest: Ben's picks of 2010
1 vs. 100 Remember when Microsoft confirmed that there would be no more 1 vs. 100 and your heart broke in half? I remember that day. It was the first time I'd ever experienced anything akin to an MMO shutting down -- I was an active player in a weekly live game with thousands of other people, and it was closing. Like no other game I've played before, 1 vs. 100 brought together all of my friends -- gaming and non-gaming alike -- for a weekly shared experience. Couple that unique experience with my love for trivia (I totally dominated history and video game-themed nights), and 1 vs. 100 was a clear choice for one of my favorite games in 2010. It's a real shame there's no way to play it anymore.
Best of the Rest: Dave's picks of 2010
1 vs 100 This summer, something terrible happened: Microsoft canned 1 vs 100, its experiment in live trivia gaming. With two seasons under its belt, I became quite enamored with the free game. Honestly, my Tuesday and Friday nights will never feel the same again. Also, it's sad I'll likely never get to use the above image in a post on Joystiq again.
Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2010
Dance Central This is how the dancing genre should be done. Harmonix brought it on and stepped it up with Dance Central, a full-body follow-the-choreography game that showed off Microsoft's Kinect tech and ended up being the device's killer app at launch. Authoritative, yet fun, Dance Central felt like the first step in a franchise that could potentially have an amazing future. Dance Central 2 is a given and I can't wait to see what it delivers. Harmonix has shown us with Rock Band that it can rapidly build upon a core foundation. Chained dance routines? Online dance battles? Customizable routines? It's probably all on the table... and I would dance on that table using a stripper pole for all of it. But, my gawd, I would give anything for the option to remove or exchange freestyle sections for more moves.
Chris Cashman speaks on the end of 1 vs. 100
Inimitable host of the now-canceled Xbox Live gameshow 1 vs. 100 Chris Cashman recently spoke to Giant Bomb about his feelings on the show being disbanded, even going so far as to create a goodbye video. He called the situation a "bummer," adding, "It wasn't that long ago that I was blown away by having colored rubber bands on my braces, so getting to host the first live videogame ever is pretty much tops." And though he says he's "sure they are plotting something rad," Cashman, sadly, doesn't have any idea what the future of Xbox Live's Primetime channel will hold for gameshows like 1 vs. 100. We've dropped his goodbye video just after the break. Feel free to pour one out for 1 vs. 100 with us while watching.
The Mob loses: Microsoft cancels 1 vs. 100
Microsoft will not be holding a third season of 1 vs. 100 on Xbox Live. Kotaku confirmed the sad news with Microsoft Game Studios' General Manager Dave McCarthy, who said, "We're very proud of the 1 vs 100 team and their accomplishments, and are excited to apply what we've learned to future programming." The game's Xbox.com page has the image pictured above, simply stating, "A fond farewell ... thank you from the team." Microsoft will now apply the technology that kept 100,000 players in the game concurrently on "new projects that will be unveiled in the future." We wish Microsoft had polled the mob before pulling the plug on the popular program.
Microsoft 'actively working to improve' 1 vs. 100 prizing process
With the conclusion of another 1 vs. 100 season on Xbox Live, it appears Microsoft still has some kinks to work out of its grand (and fun) online game show experiment. After receiving several tips and reviewing forums, it was made clear that some players were having problems obtaining their awards. Joystiq followed up with Microsoft and was told, "We are aware that some people have experienced delays in receiving 1 vs. 100 prizes. We apologize for the delay and are actively working to improve the prize fulfillment process. We encourage Xbox LIVE members to ensure all of their account personal information is up to date so Microsoft can determine prizing eligibility. If you have any further questions, please contact your local customer support." A major issue with the 1 vs. 100 prizing seems to be the number of minor details of which players may be unaware. For starters, prize winners should wait up to six weeks before hitting the panic button. There's also the issue of location: Remember that residents of Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Vermont, and Quebec can't receive prizes (and shouldn't even participate in the live shows). Prize winners (actually, all Xbox Live users) should also make sure their email and contact information is current. It also helps to review the game's Mini FAQ. Before the next season of 1 vs. 100 starts we'll follow up with Microsoft to see what improvements it has made to the process. Just letting players know if they are even eligible for prizes -- before starting them off in their first 1 vs. 100 Live show of the season -- would likely alleviate several issues.
Season finale of 1 vs. 100 this Friday has Jimmy Fallon, Bungie
Microsoft already announced earlier this week that Halo luminaries Frank O'Connor and Marty O'Donnell would be stopping by for the season finale of 1 vs. 100, but now Major Nelson has revealed that Jimmy Fallon will be appearing as well. It's not too much of a stretch to see the Late Night host appearing on the game, as games have certainly been no stranger on his talk show (or its commercials). This season's final episode of 1 vs. 100 will begin on Xbox Live this Friday at 10:00pm ET/7:00 pm PT.
1 vs. 100 free for Xbox Live Silver members from Dec. 24 - 28
Looking for a cheap way to stave off that post-holiday depression that we all immediately experience as soon as the last present is unwrapped? (You do experience that, right?) Microsoft's got new Xbox 360 owners covered -- from December 24 to December 28, 1 vs. 100 will be free-to-play for Xbox Live Silver subscribers. What's more, the show on December 26 will be deeply saturated with holiday spirit, featuring "Holiday-themed trivia, a decked out set, and laughs with Chris Cashman." If you're still on the fence about subscribing to Live, you should give this free 1 vs. 100 trial a shot. After all, nothing can better distract you from the fact that you won't get to open more intricately ribboned gifts for another 364 days like taking part in an interactive game show.
Reminder: 1 vs. 100 Season 2 begins this evening
Xbox Live-based game show 1 vs. 100 begins its second season this evening in the States at 8PM EST/5PM PST. The second season is bringing a plethora of upgrades to the show, including unlockable dance moves and the chance of becoming a badge recipient as the 14-week season goes on. Oh yeah, there are also sweet, sweet Achievements. We're definitely curious to see how the second round goes, especially now that the chance of getting into the Mob or becoming The One is based on "score, score, score." If you haven't tried the game with your family, spouse or Xbox Live buddies yet, be sure to check it out.
The Daily Grind: Attending the 1 vs. 100 season premiere?
It's massive. It's multiplayer. And it's adding achievements! 1 vs. 100 is back again on Xbox Live, and the live version of the online game show where you can win real prizes is starting up again on November 19th. While the game doesn't exactly generate a cash cow of news, it is a lot of fun to play. Plus, you know, it is free if you have yourself an Xbox Live gold account (which almost every Xbox 360 owner does, otherwise you're doing it wrong.) So we want to know are you going to be there? Will you be jumping in with your friends online, or are you assembling yourself a 1 vs. 100 premiere party? Are you going to be aiming for prizes, or are you going to be shooting for all of the achievements you can grab? Dropping your thoughts in the comment box below and clicking send is way easier than pushing A, B, or X on your Xbox controller! (Ok, so maybe it isn't, but you should really do it anyway. It's fun!)
1 vs. 100 Achievements revealed, you'll need to be smarter
Feeling a little miffed at your lack of compensation for playing 1 vs. 100? That is, unless you're one of the chosen ones, who, at some point during their lives, were anointed by unknown entity who deemed them worthy to appear in the big show. If you're not part of this esteemed group, you'll still be able to collect rewards for your playtime -- yes, we're talking about sweet 'Cheevos, the full list of which can be found after the jump. Fortunately, there's no Achievement handed out for landing in The One's seat. That might push the community's more dedicated Achievement hunters to the brink of madness.
Second season of Xbox Live's 1 vs. 100 starts Nov. 19
If you've been missing your trivia fix on Xbox Live, you should be happy to learn that Microsoft has dated the second season of its Xbox Live quiz-'em-up, 1 vs. 100. Expect the game to return on November 19 at 5:00 PDT, where it'll dish out another 14 weeks' worth of questions -- and this time around, your chance to be The One or a part of The Mob will be determined by one thing: score. Multiple-choice maniacs will be able to play the new season of 1 vs. 100 on a daily basis through themed Extended Play sessions every night, including "Finish the Lyrics," "80's" night and -- yes, we're totally serious -- "Vampires." Finally, a theme night your 12-year-old sister can get behind!
1 vs. 100 Season 2 details dished on dev blog
New information on Microsoft's still free for now Xbox Live-based game show 1 vs. 100 has been a bit on the light side since the game's initial release so many moons ago. The official 1 vs. 100 Blogs have detailed some new features of the game's second season. For one, rather than Avatars amorphously apparating on-stage, "The One" will strut down a central staircase right after dropping a fancy pose on the plebeians below. Players in the hot seat will also have their Xbox Live statuses automatically set to "Busy," so as not to knock their concentration from the mind grape squeezing at hand. No details were revealed on when we might actually get to play more 1 vs. 100, unfortunately.[Via Destructoid]
Microsoft: Avatar clothing changed 150 million times
Speaking at the First Annual Microsoft Open House in NYC, Robbie Bach, president of the company's entertainment and devices division, was touting the strength of the 360 platform. Along with the impressive news that the results of 425 million games had been crunched for matchmaking, Bach also said that Avatar clothing had been changed more than 150 million times. When you divide that by the 20 million Xbox Live users the company's claiming, that's ... more than 7 changes each. We're a bit worried about some of you. Gang, please, keep your dignity intact: Set it once -- walk away. It's the only sane thing to do. Of course, Bach also said that 200,000 games of 1 vs. 100 were being played every weekend, so maybe you guys are just trying to get spiffed up for Chris Cashman. We hope it was worth it.
XBLA Summer of Arcade sales grow 200%
Microsoft had a good summer, according to the company's summary of Xbox Live events. 1 vs. 100 reached nearly 3 million gamers during its beta season by Microsoft's estimates, and the Summer of Arcade Xbox Live Arcade promotion enjoyed a reported 200 percent growth in revenue over last year's sales. While Microsoft has already relished in Metroidvania success, a press release claims that Trials HD and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 also performed well in first-week sales; and both titles join Shadow Complex in the top five bestselling week-one XBLA games of all time. Sales were no doubt boosted by a cloudy economy that kept folks indoors and looking for inexpensive entertainment. Microsoft capitalized, too, by raising the average price of its Summer of Arcade titles.During last year's promotion, three of the five Summer of Arcade games were priced at $10, but this year, only two of the five were $10 -- the other three costing $15 apiece. (It's unclear if Microsoft counts Battlefield 1943's sales toward revenue growth; the $15 title was not technically part of Summer of Arcade this year.) Microsoft also saw success in its bold, new free entertainment department. 1 vs. 100 averaged more than half a million users during each of the game show's live sessions. According to Microsoft, the game's near "three-million" downloads within its 13-week availability places 1 vs. 100 within the top ten downloads in Xbox Live history. If we've learned anything on this gloomy fall morning, it's that people like summer gaming and Microsoft has way too many "top" lists cluttering up its offices.
Rumor: Survey gauges interest in pay-to-play 1 vs. 100 [update]
Xbox Live's 1 vs. 100 has a unique premise among console games. Rather than charge Xbox Live members for the ability to play, the "show" is supported by advertisements, which occasionally break up the gameplay. In some ways, it's a perk of being an Xbox Live Gold member, as Silver members are locked out of the virtual studio. That said, it looks like Microsoft might be reconsidering the strategy behind the game. A Joystiq tipster sent us the image seen above, which was supposedly taken from a survey on MyThoughtCounts.com. The survey asks quite simply, "If 1 vs 100 were not available as part of your Gold Membership account, how likely would you be to purchase 1 vs 100 for $15 per season (13 weeks)?" If the survey is genuine, 1 vs. 100 might not be free after all. Is this what the Season Pass was all about? We're not sure what would trigger such a change of heart: perhaps the prize model isn't as viable as Microsoft had hoped, or perhaps the number of viewers is lower than expected. Of course, it's only a survey, and it certainly isn't a confirmation that 1 vs. 100 will see any significant changes at all. We've contacted Microsoft regarding the possibility and will update this post with any new info.Update: We've heard back from Microsoft, which -- unsurprisingly -- didn't directly address the survey or potential pay-to-play model for XBL Silver members. You can read the full MS statement after the break.
1 vs. 100 statistics, upcoming events detailed
The first season of the Xbox Live game show sensation that's sweeping the nation is drawing to a close -- if you've yet to check out 1 vs. 100, Microsoft is pulling out all the stops during its last week on the air (August 22 - 29) to try and suck you in. Among the attractions is a free chance for Silver subscribers to try the game out during its last weekend run, and guest appearances by Shadow Complex creative director Donald Mustard, GamerchiX, Major Nelson and internet nerd darling Felicia Day. Microsoft also released a number of statistics regarding the game's success -- more than 2.5 million people across the globe have downloaded 1 vs. 100, and more than one million Microsoft Points have been handed out to the game's participants. None went to us, though. We tend to crack under interrogative pressure.
Redefining MMOs: Pesky Persistence
Here in Redefining MMOs we've been over terminology, working with lore, the place of soloing in our online games, players acting as developers, and attempting to get away from the carbon copy feel of the genre. With all of that in mind, where could we possibly head to next? Well, how about dealing with persistence?One persistent world holding thousands of players simultaneously, a world that continues even when you log off. That was the dream, wasn't it? Having an insane number of players all occupying the same game space? Having you and 100 of your closest friends (or perhaps enemies) battling it out over loot, bosses, pvp, and anything else the game had to offer? Persistence has long been one of the central aspects of the MMO genre, where "one continuous world" rules over all. So is persistence what defines an MMO or is it not that clear cut? Perhaps persistence is nothing more than a pesky piece of unpleasant pie and maybe we shouldn't define our genre by it as we do now.In this issue of Redefining MMOs, I'm going to tackle the thorny issue of persistence, from its definition down to what we perceive the word to mean. I'm also going to include a discussion on two very different games -- 1 vs. 100 and Chromehounds -- and put both to the MMO persistence test. Then, as the article all comes together, I'm going to tackle the biggest question of them all: "Does persistence matter?" If you have an opinion on this week's subject, feel free to leave a comment on page 3 or even write your own "Redefining MMOs" blog post and leave a comment with the URL.
1 vs. 100 welcomes Penny Arcade this Friday
Penny Arcade's Mike "Gabe" Krahulik has announced that he and Jerry "Tycho" Holkins will be special guests on Xbox Live's 1 vs. 100 this Friday evening. During the live show, set to begin at 7pm PT / 10pm ET, Gabe and Tycho will be online along with the usual host, Chris Cashman. Krahulik notes that the show will include some Penny Arcade related questions and players will be able to call in with questions for the webcomic creators. Also, given the timing, we're fairly certain there will be at least a little PAX talk. Who knows, with the Penny Arcade crew on deck, maybe we'll see a few episodes of Penny Arcade Adventures given away as prizes. Speaking of, might we suggest you call in and ask when we can expect Episode 3?
