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Did You Know Gaming looks back at the Game Boy
The video game historians at Did You Know Gaming have returned with a look back at the history of Nintendo's wildly successful, beloved Game Boy handheld. From the classic, green-screen LCD brick to the Game Boy Advance, Did You Know Gaming explores the strange, often baffling plans surrounding Nintendo's handheld. For instance, did you know that Nintendo planned a peripheral for the Game Boy Advance which would monitor a user's blood glucose levels? Or a headset that would help to sedate children prior to medical procedures? As the Game Boy ruled the handheld market for more than a decade, a single video just isn't enough to cover every iota of trivia surrounding the gadget. Instead, Did You Know Gaming offers two clips, the one above, and one more which you can find below the break.
Download: Show your friends you're smarter than them with QuizUP
Sometimes you don't need an original idea to make a killer app, as long as you get the presentation right. Take Tinder, for example, which managed to put a whole new spin on internet dating thanks to its slick, simple mobile interface. Now, there are innumerable quiz apps out there for mobile devices, but none quite like QuizUp. Released last month on Android after launching last year on iOS, QuizUp is spreading through this editor's friendship group like wildfire, because what are friends for if not to beat at question-and-answer games and wind them up about it later? It's not just the online multiplayer that makes QuizUp a gem, though -- it's also super easy to use and looks great, too.
You Don't Know Jack dev brings two games to Amazon Fire TV
While the Amazon Fire TV is "absolutely not a game console," developers such as Telltale Games and now Jackbox Games are already supporting the media-streaming device. The Chicago-based developer launched both You Don't Know Jack Party and a new trivia party game Fibbage for free on the Fire TV today. You Don't Know Jack Party first arrived on iOS last fall. Fibbage, like You Don't Know Jack Party, uses smartphones and tablets as game controllers while linking up with the Fire TV for big-screen multiplayer sessions. In it, up to eight players trick one another by filling in the blanks of trivia statements with lies as they see fit. Each round of play lasts seven questions and includes special categories like "Celebrity Tweets" and "Road Trip." The free version of Fibbage offers a "handful" of questions, while the paid upgrade of Fibbage brings with it hundreds more. Jackbox didn't offer a price for the upgraded version, though it noted plans to launch DLC for the game in the future. Amazon just announced (and launched) the Fire TV today for $99. [Image: Jackbox Games]
Forget trivia night at the local bar, QuizUp's now on Android
Android users looking for something to fill the hole that Flappy Birds once occupied now have a less trivial time sink in the form of QuizUp. As you'd expect from a trivia app worth its salt, it comes loaded with tons of topics (over 400) to choose from, including lifestyle, TV and literature. And, since it's a social game, you can test your expertise in any of those subjects against friends and strangers. If the name QuizUp sounds familiar, it's because the app was released for iOS four months ago and became its creators' first smash hit -- it did for Icelandic studio Plain Vanilla what Angry Birds did for Rovio and Draw Something for Omgpop.
Unfortunately, Guess The 90s is really, really good
There are already enough (or perhaps too many) trivia games on the iPhone. There are all-encompassing gems like QuizUp but most aren't nearly that well done, and to be honest, I was kind of hoping Guess The 90s would be a dud as well. I was born in the mid 80s, so the vast majority of my childhood memories took place during the decade that brought us Pogs and popularized snap bracelets. But to my chagrin, the trivia puzzler is fantastic, and so I've been reliving my childhood in 2-minute bursts for the past week or so. The puzzles in Guess The 90s simply ask you to name whatever object, musical group, tv show, or other piece of pop culture it displays on the screen. You have rows of letters with which to spell out the answer, and you can use a hint if you get stuck (but a simple Google search is usually a quicker way to find the answer if you truly get stumped). What really makes the game special is the wealth of 90s content on offer. There are some truly obscure items here, and you'll need a pretty robust knowledge of 90s media, with a huge focus on the TV shows that were popular at the time. There's also a ton of toys to name, one-hit-wonder bands, and even some fashion trends that will make you cringe. Guess The 90s is free to play, but includes in-app purchases of "coins" (which are used to gain hints), as well as the occasional pop-up advertisement. The cash-making features shouldn't hinder your experience too much, and if you don't want to drop a few bucks to score some cheap hints, you can always use the web. If you're a 90s kid -- or really anyone who wants to take a brief nostalgia break -- you might find yourself getting sucked into it.
Sony Pictures TV launches sports trivia mobile game, Sports Jeopardy
Hot on the heels of its first original mobile IP, Sony Pictures TV launched another mobile game last week, Sports Jeopardy. The sports trivia game uses Jeopardy's branding and quiz show style to challenge players with thousands of sports-related questions. It is available now on iOS and Android via Google Play and the Amazon App Store. Sports Jeopardy includes a leaderboard-enabled leveling system with challenges and achievements as well as turn-based online and local multiplayer modes. To spice up the traditional Jeopardy formula, the game also features power-ups like Time Out to add more time to the clock for answers and Double Down, which provides another Daily Double bonus on a tile on the board. The game is 99 cents with the option of additional in-game purchases, and also uses in-game coins for unlockable jerseys, podiums and avatar accessories. [Image: Sony Pictures TV]
New addon Explore the World offers trivia, exploration fun
Sometimes, in the rush to get to level 90 and reach the ever-alluring temptations of endgame in WoW, players forgo all the really cool stuff there is to see while going about the process of getting there. It was with this in mind that Symphonym came up with a new addon called Explore the World -- an addon deliberately crafted to pique player's interest in the world around them. The addon is currently in the beta stages, but can be downloaded and tested via Curse for those interested in a lively bout of exploration and fun. Explore the World is a game within a game -- a trivia game based around what you see and find while out and about in Azeroth. But there's a twist to the game: you have to actually travel and be in the relevant location in order to answer the questions. There are four categories to choose from -- Tracking, which requires you to track down and target an NPC based on clues and 3D models, Investigation, which requires you to locate an area and answer questions based on its surroundings, and Exploration, which involves locating a particular sub zone in the game. The fourth is called Group Questions, which appropriately enough simply requires 2-5 players to be in a party to answer the questions as a group. This is a really cool idea, and something that sounds like a really engaging, fun way to get people out there and actively looking at the world around them while playing. An interactive virtual trivia game that involves actually running around and participating in a virtual world. At the moment there are only 50 or so questions to answer -- Symphonym is using this initial release to test the addon and its features, as well as judge the general demand for the addon itself. If this sounds like something that is right up your alley, I'd suggest downloading the addon and giving it a spin -- it's definitely a far more creative take on the usual trivia minigames, and sounds incredibly fun.
Europe: Gran Turismo 6 contest will dole out racing pods to lucky fans
PlayStation is holding a Gran Turismo 6 contest for Europe's would-be speed demons. Don't think you'll be able to just waltz on in and snatch a spot in the drawing, though. In order to be entered, you'll have to take a multiple-choice quiz on the history of the Gran Turismo series. There are six questions, and the fastest time wins. You know what that means - no screen-looking Google searching. Should you be one of the five grand prize winners, you'll receive an official Gran Turismo racing pod, a 40-inch Sony Bravia TV, a Thrustmaster Steering Wheel and racing seat, a PS3 system and a copy of Gran Turismo 6 Anniversary Edition. Ten runners-up will receive a copy of GT6 Anniversary Edition and a PS3 to play it on. As far as we're aware, you won't be able to do any sick burnouts using the Gran Turismo racing pod. As far as we're aware.
Super Mario Bros. almost didn't have goombas
Goombas aren't just iconic staples of Nintendo's Mario universe, they're the first enemy players came up against in Super Mario Bros. That wasn't always the case, though. According to the first-ever Know Your Enemy video from GameXplain, goombas weren't originally planned for the game at all. The famous mushroom-heads were conceived of as a teaching tool so that players could organically discover that the key to defeating enemies was jumping on their heads without having to deal with the "tricky" koopas. There's plenty of other interesting details about the history of goombas in this video, so if you ever want to study up for a game of video game Trivial Pursuit, here is a good place to start. The more you know!
Daily iPhone App: Should you play QuizUp? Hint: The answer is yes
I'm not a fan of quiz games. Actually, let me rephrase that: I didn't think I was a fan of quiz games. When I was first contacted to take a look at QuizUp, I had very little interest in it because, well, it's a quiz game. To me, quiz games are inherently boring, too broad, too long and oftentimes too easy. QuizUp is none of those, which is why QuizUp has been one of the most-played games on my iPhone for the past couple of weeks. QuizUp bills itself as the world's largest trivia game, and with a total of 150,000 questions over a whopping 250 topics, it certainly seems to be earning the title. The actual quiz portion of the game takes place in seven-question bursts that last just a minute or two in total, which is the perfect format for a mobile trivia game. You're always facing off against another player, either a friend you know who has challenged you (or a challenge you are posing to them) or an anonymous online player that the game matches you up against. Whether you win or lose, your score helps you rank up in each category you compete in. Speaking of categories, you can take on topics like science, tech, history and all the standards you've seen in quiz games since the beginning of time... or you can venture in the more obscure areas of knowledge. This is where QuizUp really earns my love. I wasn't expecting to see specific sections devoted to Seinfeld or Futurama, but there they are, complete with questions only the most diehard nerds (like yours truly) would know. This level of care has also been given to individual musical genres, specific bands, various sports, video games and just about any other topic you can think of. Oh, and if you'd like to really show off your knowledge, you can submit your own questions, which will be screened and, if they stack up, could be added to the game itself. At the time of this writing, I am the top-ranked player in the world for Futurama, and the top-ranked player in my home state of Wisconsin for Seinfeld. That's some pretty awesome nerd cred, but it's never guaranteed to stick around for very long. Players are leveling up to catch you all the time, and real-time leaderboards let you see how big of a gap stands between you and the players around you. The QuizUp app also has some added functionality like discussion boards and player-to-player chat which you wouldn't necessarily expect from a trivia game. All-in-all, it's the best trivia game I've ever played on an iOS device, and since it's 100 percent free with the only in-app purchases currently being XP boosts, it's a no-brainer for anyone with a brain.
You Don't Know Jack Steam bundle celebrates 18 funny years
The You Don't Know Jack Classic Pack is now available on Steam. The $20 bundle offers players the original games in the series stretching back to 1995's Vol. 1 XL. Each of the nine trivia games are available individually for $2.99 save for Vol. 6, which costs $1.99. The Classic Pack is a $5.92 discount on the combined price of the games. Developer Jackbox Games, formerly Jellyvision Games, has since developed You Don't Know Jack for a number of platforms. The developer updated the Facebook and mobile versions of the latest entry in the trivia series to unlock free and unlimited daily access for all users, and the $2.99 "Royale" upgrade offers in-game bonuses and strips away ads from the game.
Netflix adds movie selection service 'Max' today on PS3
Netflix will introduce "Max" on PlayStation 3 today, a new interactive way to find movies and TV shows. Created by Jellyvision Labs (which shares a founder in Harry Gottlieb of Jackbox Games, the studio behind kooky game show You Don't Know Jack), the Max app features a familiar vibe for anyone who has squared off against Cookie Masterson. And no, it's a different voice. Max is incorporated within the category sections of the PS3 Netflix browser – it's not a separate program. Once you click on it, you'll play a You Don't Know Jack-lite game. Max will offer up a movie, which you can start watching immediately, add to your queue or receive a 30-second pitch on. Todd Yellin, vice president of product innovation at Netflix, told us that Max was conceived of in 2007 when Jellyvision and the pair did some testing. The companies re-engaged in 2011 and Max is ready for its debut this week. Netflix will integrate Max into other platforms as time goes on. Also, no, this does not mean we should expect You Don't Know Jack movie trivia as a direct app within Netflix. We totally asked. Update: Jellyvision Labs and Jellyvision Games (now Jackbox Games) are wholly separate entities. We've updated the story to reflect this. Here is a statement from Marc Blumer, marketing director at Jackbox Games: "Just wanted to let you know that Netflix's 'Max' app, while awesome, is not a product of Jackbox Games, but instead was produced by Jellyvision Labs – a wholly separate entity that does share a founder in Harry Gottlieb but is in fact a different company altogether from our games development studio."
NBC plans 'The Million Second Quiz,' a twelve-day, 24 / 7 game show
Second screen experiences connected to TV shows haven't exactly set the world on fire, but NBC will give it another try with a new game show this fall. The Million Second Quiz is being promoted as a non-stop, twelve day trivia game with an "unprecedented level of interactivity" for viewers. In a move that harkens back to our memories of 1 vs 100 on Xbox Live a few years ago, viewers at home can play along and possibly win a spot on the show. While the competition will go on around the clock, the show airs during prime time. It will broadcast live from an "hourglass-shaped structure" located in Manhattan where the four reigning champs will reside as long as they can stay on top throughout the two week competition. Once the million seconds are up, the four champions will face off for a cash prize of up to $10 million. We'll need more details before we can decide if this is more Ultimate Ninja Warrior or Oh Sit! / Splash / Bet On Your Baby (these are all real game shows, we promise), but it's one to keep an eye out for when the all new shows debut.
Daily iPhone App: Lie Swatter has you swatting lies for fun with friends
Developer Jellyvision is best known as the company behind the great You Don't Know Jack series -- they've made nearly every version of the best-selling trivia video game, including the really great iOS iteration. Lie Swatter is the latest game from the company, and while it's not related to You Don't Know Jack, it is still a trivia game in the vein of fast, fun, multiplayer action that YDKJ does so well. The idea here is that you're given a number of statements in the form of cartoon flies, some of which are true and some of which aren't. It's your job to try and smack down as many lies as you can, while leaving the truths alone. Games can be played against Facebook friends, Game Center friends or just random opponents, and you basically pass turns back and forth, each trying to swat more lies than your opponent. Personally, I don't really like Lie Swatter as much as Jellyvision's other work -- I much prefer YDKJ's multiple choice format, and the fact that you can sit down and play a game through without having to wait for turns to return. But Lie Swatter is a fun title, and I can see how its more casual gameplay might appeal to some players, especially if you've got willing friends to play along with. It's available on the App Store for free right now, and though there are ads in the app, you can pay a $1.99 in-app purchase to remove them completely.
App lets you battle Ken Jennings in trivia death match
If you ever wanted to know how you would stack up against Ken Jennings in a Jeopardy battle, now's your chance. An app called Trivia Death Match with Ken Jennings hit the App Store last week. It allows players to answer trivia questions against Jennings in timed matches. Points are awarded for accuracy and speed. As Jeopardy fans will now, Jennings holds the all-time Jeopardy record for highest score and longest winning streak on the game show. The Trivia Death Match with Ken Jennings isn't an official Jeopardy app, but the developers worked with Jennings to make it. According to KOMOnews, the app's two developers had a chance run-in with Jennings at a trivia night in Seattle. They pitched the idea to Jennings and then he said, "They locked me in this room, with snacks and soda and a thousand trivia questions to answer and I didn't get to come out until I did them all. It was like detention." The game notes the time it took Jennings to complete that trivia lock-down, and the questions he answered are also in the game. Trivia Death Match with Ken Jennings is available in the App Store for US$2.99.
EverQuest's 14th anniversary celebration begins early
Hey there, EverQuest! You're looking mighty fine for a 14-year-old game. What's that, you say? You want us to come party with you? And you're willing to start a little early? Indeed, tomorrow is EverQuest's 14th anniversary, and SOE is kicking off the celebrations a day early. New anniversary missions that were designed at 2012's SOE Live are now active, as is all of the previous anniversary content. Double XP is also in effect to give your characters a boost. The developers released a few fun facts about EverQuest for its anniversary, including that the number of NPCs (344,935) is more than how many people live in Tampa Florida. Also, if you created a character on launch day in 1999, then according to Norrath time, that character would be 280 years old.
You Don't Know Jack gets celebrity guests
I am a big fan of the You Don't Know Jack series as a whole, and I think the recently released iOS version is one of the best ways to play the game: It's social, it's quick and easy, and oh yeah, it's completely free. And now that version is getting even better -- Jellyvision has made some deals to include celebrity guests in the game. Not only will celebrities appear over the phone during the entire show (similar to the old "celebrity phone call" gag on the old versions of YDKJ, which I really loved), but they'll also have a place in the competition, competing alongside you and your Facebook friends as you play. The first celebrity picked to join the game is Mad Men's Rich Sommer, and model Adrienne Curry is set to join the game next, with other updates coming out on a monthly basis. I played through Sommer's show, and it's certainly chock full of plugs for his TV show, so presumably there's either some money going back and forth for these appearances, or the guys at Jellyvision are just big fans of AMC. Even if these are paid appearances, I'm not bothered. YDKJ is a great game that's been offering lots of great free content, and adding in celebrities in this way is an excellent way to both liven up the formula and keep the lights on. You can play the first celebrity ep of the game on iOS now, and more should be available soon.
MapleStory celebrates the magic of marriage and subsequent divorce
Valentine's Day is nearly here, and the best way to celebrate it is to have your pixelated avatar pretend to marry someone else's pixelated avatar. MapleStory allows you to do just that, and the game has thus far had around 28,000 couples tie the knot in-game. It's also seen 15,000 of those couples subsequently divorce, which seems like a staggering number when you realize that the game does not offer any systems to model the crumbling of your emotional bonds and the slow desertion of your childhood dreams. As it turns out, the staff at Nexon keeps track of a lot of interesting little tidbits about the marriage system. The longest marriage in the game is at 1,100 days; the shortest one clocks in at just three seconds. The average isn't too bad at 518 days, but couples that both married and divorced in 2012 wound up with an average run of 107 days. And some poor soul is already on marriage number 13, which implies Larry King-like devotions to remarriage. If you're looking at all of those stats and thinking that you can't say no, check out the wedding trailer past the break. [Source: Nexon press release] %Gallery-16709%
Daily iPhone App: You Don't Know Jack returns in Facebook form
You may be surprised to see the classic You Don't Know Jack here in this space again, as we've already covered it as a daily app. But that version is no longer on the App Store, and the new version that appeared yesterday is a completely different game, this time based on the Facebook version of the ubiquitous trivia title. As such, this version is played best with a Facebook account hooked up to it, but it's not needed -- you can still log in and play the game as a guest if you'd rather keep things more private. Aside from that Facebook functionality, this is essentially the same game we've loved ever since it first appeared on PC back in the day. Faithful host Cookie runs you through daily games of trivia questions, featuring wickedly hilarious puns and jokes, old favorites like Dis or Dat and of course the game-ending Jack Attack. Odds are you've played this game more than a few times before, but this is all new content yet again, so there's new fun to be had. The game also includes some freemium elements, like power-ups to boost your score, and various unlocks to be purchased with the cash you earn from the game. But all of that stuff is just extra, really -- this is the world's best trivia game reincarnated in a great new form. If you're a fan of the old YDKJ (and how can you not be?), definitely give it a download.
You Don't Know Jack coming to iOS and Android in the 'very near future'
You Don't Know Jack will land on iOS in the "very near future," Jellyvision announced on their Facebook page. The announcement was coupled with the appropriately demeaning video seen above.Jellyvision began testing the Android version of the game recently, so no solid release date was announced for it. Not that "the very near future" was helpful for iPhone and iPad users looking to get their trivia on. The mobile versions of You Don't Know Jack were first announced in April 2011.
