Firstly, we should acknowledge something: like them or loathe them (and PALGN liked them), SingStar and EyeToy succeeded by providing an experience that was instantaneous and fundamentally simple to anyone who approached the microphone or camera. The result was a nation of slightly tipsy grandmothers singing karaoke, of people who would never normally be seen near a PlayStation 2 gurning in front of the EyeToy. It wasn't quite a gaming revolution, but both games shifted a massive number of copies, and it was all down to implementing an approachable, spontaneous design that appealed to those who would normally be intimidated by a DualShock 2. Novelty peripherals. When it comes to Joe Public, you can't beat them.
So now, we have Buzz!, an interactive gameshow developed by music-based videogame specialists Relentless Software, and a title that could well steal quite a few evenings away in the right company. And, clearly wishing to mimick the hugely successful formula trailblazed by SingStar and EyeToy, SCEE are generously providing 4 grandmother-friendly plug-in buzzers with each copy of the game. PALGN has yet to see the buzzers themselves (though to give you an idea, we're told it's the red button for the quick response rounds, colour coded buttons for multiple choice questions and they come with a cornucopia of sounds), but it's a promising start in our book.
The quiz itself is hosted by - quelle surprise! - Buzz, who looks a bit like a cross between Drew Carey and an animated dinosaur. Nevertheless, from what PALGN has seen in action, he's a slickly presented little chap, and is assisted along the way by the obligatory nubile sidekick, who answers to Rose. We're hoping for some cringeworthy flirting between the two, and there's some obvious chances here to inject a little humour into the experience. The studio itself is nicely put together as well, right down to the canned applause of the studio audience and the dry-ice that sprays everywhere as your character (players get to select one of 16 contestants, from Elvis wannabee to Britpop rocker or raver chick to pop diva) walks out to face Buzz and Rose.
Each game of Buzz! consists of eight rounds, each with slightly different variations and rules. So 'Point Builder', the opening round, keeps things simple from the beginning, giving players the chance to build up some points to lose - or build on - in later rounds. From here, things progress to 'Snap', a multiple choice, fastest-finger-on-the-buzzer challenge where numerous possible answers appear onscreen. 'Fastest Finger' rewards the quickest buzzers with the most points, whilst 'Offloader' gives you the chance to get your rivals to answer the questions you don't want to. 'Look Before You Leap' sees players buzzing in as soon as they know the answer, but comes with the added risk of losing points should they cock things up. 'Point Stealer', 'Pass the Bomb', and 'Tie-Breaker' complete the experience.
Of course, quiz-based videogames hardly boast an illustrious history - the scars left from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire are still fresh - but it looks as though Buzz! may have sidestepped many of the flaws that spoilt other entries in the genre. For a start, there's over 1,000 music clips – all international chart-toppers from the 1950s through to 2005 – and over 5,000 questions to test your knowledge, meaning the appeal of the game shouldn't fizzle out within a few hours once questions start reappearing. There's also the chance to commit all wins and losses to a memory card, an essential feature for the kind of post-game bragging that will inevitably follow multiplayer sessions. And then, brilliantly, there's the buzzers, peripherals that genuinely let anyone join in.
Naturally, we can safely expect that Buzz! will be strongest in multiplayer mode - this is, after all, designed primarily as a social experience. And we'd be surprised if the singleplayer game is anything other than utterly hollow. But it's looking like it could be a lot of fun with a gang of you, and PALGN strongly suspects SCEE could have yet another commercial hit on their hands. And just imagine the scope for add-ons: a sports quiz would surely hold huge appeal, as would one on, say, celebrity culture. Admittedly, we're well aware it's not everybody's cup of tea, but the mainstream appeal is potentially massive (as illustrated by the Christmas-conscious October release date). As for PALGN, our buzzer fingers are already twitching.
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