The unfortunate demise of Xbox Primetime’s excellent 1 Vs. 100 was a blow to fans of casual multiplayer quizzing everywhere. The game provided a TV-like experience that viewers could take part in along with their friends. And it was excellent fun. Offering a wide variety of regularly-updated challenges and questions, not to mention the opportunity to win actual prizes, it was a highlight of the Xbox’s casual catalog.
So fans of episodic, scheduled multiplayer games may be interested in the news that Microsoft Game Studios are just starting to test a new game following the same model. An email forwarded to Kotaku indicates that a new game, named Full House Poker, is on the way to the Xbox. Offering regularly scheduled Texas Heat poker “game shows”, thousands of players will be able to compete for an opportunity to win some big prizes. Avatars come along for the ride, with a variety of unique expressions and accessories available to add a bit of individuality to each player. It’s probably fair to assume that some of these expressions and accessories will be available via microtransaction, though Microsoft are yet to confirm any details regarding the new game.
The potential concern surrounding this is that although poker is wildly popular around the world right now, it’s somewhat less accessible than a simple quiz. Anyone could understand the concept of 1 Vs. 100. But to play poker effectively requires wits, skill and a knowledge of the game’s rules. There’s also the fact that to truly enjoy poker, you need to be able to “read” the other players expressions and behavior. As cute as Xbox Avatars are, they don’t act like a human being. So it remains to be seen whether Microsoft Game Studios will be able to pull this off.
Microsoft are being very tight-lipped about the whole thing and are yet to make any official announcements. The email leaked to Kotaku ends with the words “This beta program is highly confidential. Please do not discuss the game or the beta program with anyone.” So it’s probable that they’re not ready to talk about it just yet. Potentially even less likely now that one of their beta testers has leaked the information.
It’s good news for fans of the Primetime channel, though. Here’s hoping we see more games following a similar format to cater to all interests. And perhaps one day something to take 1 Vs. 100′s place as one of the best online quiz shows of all time.
(Logo image courtesy of Kotaku.)
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