To continue on with the series looking at Quizzing in 2020, we move onto to Wikiquiz. I am moving away from Zoom based quizzes for now to look at a format Will Jones designed well before Lockdown hit. As far as I am aware, plans were in place to launch Wikiquiz as a platform for quizzers to compete against each other in user created sets and bring the online quiz community together. When lockdown hit, the timing meant that Wikiquiz, which launched at a similar time to the first UK lockdown announcement, was where thousands of quizzers turned to get their fix.
A brief look at the
leaderboards from the first quizzes published on the site, to the ones on the
present day, showcase just how far this has reached. In terms of sheer numbers of players who have
competed, Wikiquiz would stand tall above any other of the innovations that
have launched this year. Players from across the globe compete ranging from
novices you have stumbled across the site to TV professionals. Some may do
every quiz they can, others may pick the more specialist topics. Either way
Wikiquiz has something for everyone. Users create bespoke quizzes on all manner
of subjects and some of the finest setters in the country offer up regular
sets. And of course its all free!
At the heart of Wikiquiz is what are known as “Main Event”
quizzes which are typically 50 questions long and take place every night at 7pm
and 9pm. Players have 30 minutes to answer and then a leaderboard is released.
There was something novel and interesting about playing a quiz at a set time
knowing players around the globe were tackling the same set!
The software behind the site made things all the more
enjoyable. As a player, it couldn’t be any simpler……read the questions, type
your answer. As a setter, the marking system is just a joy to behold. Will Jones created something that has been cherished by thousands of quizzers throughout this awful year and long may it continue!
I think if you added up how many people had played how many
quizzes since the launch of Wikiquiz the numbers would be staggering. The full
archive is available on the site and it also lists live and upcoming quizzes
too. Even if you only remotely like an occasional quiz, there is something on
there for everyone but for the true obsessives out there Wikiquiz has been a central factor in the hobby we enjoy!
You will find the site HERE
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