Pub Quiz Machine #1

Feeding on from the introduction I mentioned that the Pub Quiz Machine tends to be something to which I am drawn to every time I happen to around one. I know they are fixed and know that they should be approached the way you would approach a fruit machine and although I have had minor wins in the past I know a trip to the quiz machine, whilst fun, will also end up being costly.

Over the next few weeks I am just going to be looking at some of the most popular quiz based games on the systems in and around your local pubs and have a chat about the various games on there.

Starting with my favourite.....

ELIMINATOR

Based on the TV game show, Wipeout, Eliminator is a simple concept.... presented with a theme and 16 (I think) possible answers you are given the task to find the correct 8. Its a simple and fun touch screen game that works better played in large groups. You are of course on a testing timer that allows little time for serious debate and encourages mistakes. You have lifelines including 2 lives per board meaning you are allowed to make mistakes, a lifeline to eliminate a random number of wrong answers and also two "find 1" chances to aid you on your way.

The game has a series of rounds and usually the top prize is £10 but I am yet to see a £10 board on Eliminator. £3 is the most I have managed and that was because the machine obviously was in a paying out mode and gave me an easy run.

Typically the categories that come up include Names of Banks, Shops etc, Things found in a handbag, kitchen garden etc, names of football players for certain teams, Eurovision winners, capital cities etc etc.

It starts off always fairly easy with the wrong answers being often humorous spelling mistakes to try and catch you out...for instance instead of HSBC it may say HBCS and the name Ryan Giggs will be changed to Ryan Gliggs.

However when the money starts to draw near the answers become tougher. Music based rounds become obscure asking you to identify songs from particular bands with obscure b-sides on there, rare animal breeds and such like.

Its tough and of course when there is money on the line becomes unfair but its one of the most fun of the normal games to play and certainly the one I have won the most on.

Sunderland Echo Quiz League

Well, my first season in the Sunderland Echo Quiz League is almost at an end with only a weeks worth of matches to play.

I joined the league for the first time since moving to the local area and indeed this has been the first league I have played it. Its been a really enjoyable season all round, I have met some great people, sampled some fine beer and of course enjoyed some great quizzing. I have learnt so much from the one season alone! Setting questions has been more enjoyable than I would have imagined and of course dealing with great quiz questions week in week out has improved my own quizzing vastly!

If there is anyone in the local area who fancies joining then please feel free to email me at fully234@hotmail.com and I will pass your details on.

The new season will be starting soon!

Only Connect Returns

Tonight sees the return of one of my favourite quiz shows "Only Connect". After a brief outing earlier this month  on BBC2 the show airs on BBC Four tonight. Well worth watching if you have never seen it before!

World Quizzing Championships

The World Quizzing Championships take place on June 1st. This time last year I was attending my first major quizzing event and the WQC was definitely a great way to start!

This year events are taking place at Masham, Yorkshire and in Edinburgh again. Full details can be found on http://www.quizzing.co.uk

Book Suggestion - Penguin TV Companion

For some time I knew that I needed to improve my TV knowledge. I am not a massive TV viewer and tend to miss out on a lot of questions I should be lapping up. So recently I treated myself to The Penguin TV Companion Fourth Edition which is put together by Jeff Evans it has proved invaluable already.

This is a fine reference book and easily one of the best on TV I have seen, in fact it is the best. Its presented in an A-Z way with key shows being given full cast lists, interesting trivia, air dates, number of episodes and so much information quizzers will love it. Other entries include profiles of major actors, producers and influential figures, tv network information and bits of TV history. Its all here. I know its an old cliche but this book is very hard to put down.

I would say no matter what your level of TV knowledge this is an essential book on an quizzers self and anyone setting quizzers will find plenty too! There is a lot of coverage of major US shows which seems to becoming more important in a lot of quizzes so that has boosted me a lot!

Here is a link to check out the book on Amazon -

Charity Quiz Night with Kevin Ashman and Anne Hegarty

I will be mentioning Quiz Britain in a post later this week but just whilst I remember the company have a fantastic sounding Charity Night this weekend in Lymington.

The event is open to anyone and kicks off at 7.30pm at The Masonic Hall, High Street, Lymington for teams of up to 10 people. Each team will get the chance to have Kevin or Anne quiz in their team and there are plenty of events planned for the whole night.

Sounds like a great night of quizzing!

For information click HERE

To book a place at the event click HERE

Rolleston GP

It was off to Rolleston this week for the latest Grand Prix monthly meeting of the British Quiz Association. It was another excellent turnout and as usual the standard of quizzing was very high. I managed to rack in my highest ever score in both the overall total and the individual round. Proof that my strict revision/learning routine is working!!!

I would have secured my first ever medal if it was not for not knowing about Harry Potter. This has been a constant blind spot of mine ever since I started quizzing and I have ignored my own advice several times by not swotting up on the subject. 

Overall all thought that is 6 events I have attended in a row now and I am still thoroughly enjoying it. Anyone interested in taking part have a look at http://www.quizzing.co.uk. Its a very welcoming and friendly community and attending these events has improved my quizzing immensely!

CJ De Mooi (Eggheads) Interview

Earlier in the week I mentioned CJ De Mooi (formerly of Eggheads) has recently released a quiz related book. CJ has kindly answered a few questions on the subject of the

 What made you decide to write a book giving advice on how to succeed at TV quiz shows?

The problem was so many people I knew wanted to go on a quiz shows but had no idea how to even start. Looking for the shows and trying to apply seemed so daunting, they wouldn't even try.
Finding the casting calls is only the first step of what can be a long and arduous journey so I wanted to try and use my experience to ease the ordeal.

 

There are some great tips in the book. If you were wanting to make your first TV appearance at present, which show would you choose? 

 It all depends on how you gauge your individual talents. Although I think it's an awful idea terribly formatted, purely from a quiz viewpoint, Tipping Point could be a useful start. The questions aren't too tough and there's a mild combative component to the gameplay. It's a relatively gentle introduction to several common quiz show themes. 

 What do you think are the most important ingredients in creating a successful TV quiz show format? 

In the modern environment, I think there's a move away from more overtly competitive and aggressive formats. Most current popular ideas tend to be solitary displays of knowledge whether it's against a quiz champion (such as The Chase) the clock or others' scores.
The Weakest Link was justifiably successful but played too much on the stress of the environment rather than pure quiz ability. 

 
In terms of increasing knowledge are there any particular reference books you would recommend? 

 Reference books are always tricky as information quickly becomes obsolete. One of the reasons I chose to publish How To Win TV Quiz Shows electronically was to save time (occasionally up to a year) between completion and release.
However, it's hard to go wrong with The Times Atlas of the World. My best advice would be to subscribe to a magazine such as The Week which covers all the major news stories across the world. Current affairs are essentially to stay abreast of. 

In terms of your quizzing achievements what are you most proud of?

I think this would have to be being a loud mouthed yob. I would never have got my career had I been a typically English shrinking violet. I saw my chance and took it. I wasn't afraid of the slings and arrows and, although my quizzing knowledge expanded massively, to give me the opportunity I had to get noticed in the first place. With my now infamous Weakest Link tirade, I did just that. 

 
What have you been up to since leaving Eggheads? 

I'm now an actor and recently opened in 'Geek! A New Musical' at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London's west end. I'm also producing this piece and a week into our month's run, we're lucky to be playing to sell out houses.
Later this year I'll be producing and appearing in two Harvey Fierstein plays and will be taking the lead in a feature film at the start of 2014. 
Acting was really the only thing I ever wanted to do and, despite my best efforts, it seems I've got myself a career. 

 
You mention in the book the amount of death threats and hate mail the BBC used to receive about you. Did this have an impact on your decision to leave Eggheads?
 

 Oh not in the slightest. I found it hilarious and can't believe the people who take the trouble to physically write these things think they'll have any impact. I've been on Twitter a couple of years and get the most disgusting abuse (even had a couple of people arrested because of it) but it doesn't bother me in the slightest.
The only concern I have is when others don't take this situation seriously enough. A few people tweeted I was a child abuser and even included a couple of mocked up photos. Twitter did nothing and neither did Charing Cross police station which I found shocking. Fortunately a radio and TV personality had s campaign against so called trolling which I became involved with and action was taken.

 Is your competitive quizzing career over or may we see you returning to Grand Prixs or a serious quiz tv show any time in the future? 

 Never say never! ;-)

Here is a link to CJ's book on the Amazon Kindle Store. (Just a note that you don't need to a Kindle to read it, it can be browsed on any PC/Laptop)

CJ De Mooi - New Book!

Former Egghead, and now stage actor, CJ De Mooi has recently published a book on the Amazon Kindle score. The main idea behind the book is to advise potential game/quiz show applicants on good practice and to give tips on every stage from the application to the tv studio itself. It contains anecdotes and information about CJ's career in TV land and is a very useful book for anyone who is looking at, or struggling to, get on a TV Quiz.

I should have an interview with CJ later in the week.

Book Suggestion: Miscellany of Britain

I am not sure if I have suggested this book before but I have been working through it over the weekend again and thought it was well worth a mention. It is very much in the style of the Schotts books in the fact that it contains a wide range of "trivia" on various subjects related to Britain. From national anthems to award winners to historical figures it is bulging with information of every page idea for quizzers!

Twitter feeds

I have recently started to use Twitter much more often and was wondering if any readers had any recommendations for quiz related (or in just amusing) Twitter feeds to follow. My username is @daniel__fullard (two underscores). Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Quiz Addict Quiz Book

A final plug for my first quiz book which has been on the store for some time now. Sales have gone well and you don't need a Kindle to read it! Any feedback for those of you that buy it would be much appreciated!

Football Tougher

This would have won you 500 pounds at the quiz I was at tonight

Akistmara FC, although no longer in existence, are one of the most successful club in the history of which nation?



Answer...
Fareo Islands

Trivia - Irish "Sitcom"

I am not too sure when or where it was first aired but over the past few days I have been watching Trivia on netflix. A 6-part Irish sitcom set around pub quizzing. Its not a bad show by any means, certainly held my attention for 6 episodes. If you have netflix or indeed perhaps look on youtube its worth a look.

Rainhill GP

It has been something of a busy two weeks and I have haven't had much time to update the blog so will try and catch up over the weekend,

Anyway, Saturday was the latest GP organised by quizzing.co.uk with this months venue being in Rainhill. The venue itself was a lot smaller than some of the other venues I have been to so far on the circuit and the only one thus far not to be a pub/club. I think it was a community centre but the room was fine, food was great and of course the quizzing was fun!

This time around it was the "Norway Open", the same format but 240 questions set by Tore Dahl from Norway. Various countries around the world were taking part. The questions were a tad easier than usual although this does not always benefit me! I managed my highest score so far after attending my 5th GP in a row but not my highest placing. The questions were much more simple, many more old chestnuts, less current affairs and less British based. In general the questions were fun but I felt with the nature of the questions being much easier (reflected in the fact that more people got through the 100 barrier than usual) I should have got more. I tend to talk myself of out easy answers!

We didn't stay for the team quiz this time around but the day was enjoyable nonetheless and for anyone still in two minds the next event details can be found at http://www.quizzing.co.uk

Well worth trying out an event!