Buzz! Quiz TV Comments by Dan Whitehead

It's this sort of game likely to put more PS3s into homes - or at least it would have been prior to the Wii!

Good to see this sort of game on the PS3, but I do have the distinct feeling that Sony are playing catchup in the casual domain, rather than leading the way.

Sony. Catchup. Buzz.

Was there anything similar to Buzz on Consoles before Buzz appeared on the PS?

Was there anything similar to Buzz on Consoles before Buzz appeared on the PS?

Don't get me wrong, Buzz is a great game, and did a lot to bring a new audience to video games - the problem is that the wind has been somewhat taken out of their sails in this console generation, thanks to Nintendo.

Sounds promising... but voice chat is essential if online play is to be popular in this IMO.

This, Singstar and Blu-Ray are the reasons people are telling me they're buying a PS3 instead of a 360 or Wii.

It's a demographic which a lot of my pals fit into. Non-gamer 30-40 somethings that have in-house parties due to everyone having kids. They love Singstar (and to a lesser extent, Buzz) and it's a system seller to these people. Now I just wish that MS would do something better than Scene It and hope that Lips works out well as I don't fancy buying another console and time soon. Saying that my PS2 versions of Singstar and Buzz are still perfectly serviceable.

Why don't people understand (Dan Whitehead) that there is no Law of Averages? There is a Law of Probability which I understand could be miscontrued but come on!!! GRRRR

Was there anything similar to Buzz on Consoles before Buzz appeared on the PS?

"You don't know jack" was a quiz game on ther PC a few years ago, not sure if it made it onto the consoles.

Why don't people (fergal_oc) understand that sometimes writers use things called "figures of speech" to get a point across in a way most people will understand. It's a quiz game review, not a maths lesson.

It's a shame there's no EyeToy support, as then you could see the other online team on their sofa. But on the plus side you can make your own quiz content packs if you are so inclined. It's also good that you can use the wireless buzzers on PS2 as well. Mine is on the way to me for the weekend so that'll be a good change from Scene It (which still has no content packs).

On the subject of gamer demographics, pretty much all of the "non-gamers" I know have a PS2 and use it just for pissed-up SingStar and Buzz. [*None* will touch Guitar Hero as it's too "geeky" and now call it Guitar Nerd]. I only know two "real life" people who have a PS3: one got it free with his mobile phone and the other bought it just for BD as he already has a 360. Conversely, my "gamer friends" all have a 360 and most of them *also* have a PS3 for BD and PS exclusives.

None of my non-gaming mates give a toss about BD and HDTV. They're perfectly happy with DVD and all want a Wii.

I've played PS2 Buzz on my PS3 already, happy to see this release! Will pick it up tonight if it's there.

Any news on Trophy support? Does it work out of the box for this title or do we have to wait for a patch? Or does it get a patch immediately?

I got a finished disc earlier this week - no evidence of Trophies yet.

Can 2 dongles support 8 players like some of the PS2 games did?

This would draw me towards finally buying a PS3 more than MGS4 would.

It's a pity Scene It has been so poorly supported. No on-line, no DLC!

In response to Dan Whitehead:

As a journalist I would assume that it is your responsibility to use your language in a way that is deemed correct. By all means use a figure of speech to describe something in such a way that anyone can understand, but to use one that is plainly incorrect and made-up is almost immoral.

Buzz is a great party game, picked up Scene It for the 360 a while back but just feels souless in comparison to the fun of the Buzz series...

@Arwin
The game disc was finished weeks ago before the trophy system was finalised and so it is not included on the game disc. It will be added with a patch that is due for mid-July. They're just waiting for Sony to QA the patch.

As a journalist I would assume that it is your responsibility to use your language in a way that is deemed correct.

I'm not a journalist. I'm a writer. A critic. Big difference. Journalism is a trade, much like law or medicine, that must be trained for. I just get paid to write words good about games and stuff.

Understand this isn't to suggest that I don't take what I do seriously, but I'm not about to pretend to be a surgeon just because I can do first aid.

By all means use a figure of speech to describe something in such a way that anyone can understand, but to use one that is plainly incorrect and made-up is almost immoral.

Immoral? Really? I mean, we could get into a long, tedious, semantic argument about how "law of averages" isn't an actual mathematical "law" but - much like sod's law - it's a commonly understood phrase. Law of Probability may be the technically correct term for what it tries to describe, but I'm writing a review of a quiz game, so I'll stick with the popularly used wording, thanks. When I'm writing for an audience of theoretical mathematicians, feel free to pull me up on my incorrect usage.

And, if we wanted to make this even twistier and turnier (disclaimer: made-up words!) I could ask you to explain how your use of "immoral" is correct in this particular example, since my casual use of a phrase that has no bearing whatsoever on the subject of the review or the score given has no moral or ethical obligations attached to it.

I guess I just find it weird when people read a whole review and the only thing they can think to comment on isn't the game, or the review, but the tiny mistake that they spotted. Factual errors, fine. The occasional typo, misplaced punctuation mark or popular phrase that doesn't meet with mathematical specifications? That seems a bit petty.

But, whatever. Go in peace. I'm sorry "Law of Averages" made you angry.

That's unpossible.

@oreillymj - yes, you can use two sets of controllers.

I might re-start the DanWhitehead for Prime Minister movement. (re GayerGamer debacle)

Actually fergal_oc - if we're going to be semantic idiots then there is no "law of probability". There are lawS of probability (e.g. law of probability of errors, law of total probability) but not a singular law of probability as you would suggest.

So Dan was actually correct by using an established lay term, and you were double wrong by not only correcting an acceptable term but also replacing it with a made-up term.

Now go back to your rock

In response to Dan Whitehead:

You say that you're not a journalist but a writer and critic. Well I'm a reader and therefore a critic of your critique of Buzz! Quiz TV. I've found a flaw in your review and pointed it out to you, yet rather than take it on the chin and admit your mistake you get all het-up and defensive. Let's hope that the makers of the games you review don't react in such a way.

SpeedyThing:

You are correct and I incorrect. In my haste to reply I made a silly mistake and have learnt from it. I would however disagree that "law of averages", though a lay term, is one that is widely accepted - in my honest opinion of course.

Fergal_oc: are you always so anal and pedantic? This isnt a white-paper - its a games review...why is this so-called error getting you so heat up?

And I have to say that I, along with a mahority of people on here, would recognize the term "Law of Averages" more than "Law(s) of Probability".

£35 on Amazon (UK)!

I have just pre-ordered it and will have a great weekend playing it.

@fergal_oc
"I would however disagree that "law of averages", though a lay term, is one that is widely accepted"

Seems you are the only one though ...

I've found a flaw in your review and pointed it out to you, yet rather than take it on the chin and admit your mistake you get all het-up and defensive.

But...but...it's not a flaw and it's not a mistake. And, weirdly, I do get a bit defensive when people call me immoral just for using a popular figure of speech in a games review, when that figure of speech implies the existence of a mathematical law that doesn't actually exist.

I mean, there's no such thing as a rule of thumb either...

£33 from Tesco with the FREEDEL code:
http://www.tesco.com/entertainment/produ...

I think the rule of thumb is that people like fergal_oc, based on the law of averages, need to get out more.

Although sods law he's probably (I'm asking for trouble here), just a bit lonely.

People, I ask a favour. Take a quiz I created, based on the greatest TV show of all time, Arrested Development.
Thankyouplease.

Had a promo copy for over a week now. First time Buzz!-er and I love it.

Why turn this comments thread into an extended diatribe about a commonly used and understood (by everybody except for him) term? Perhaps the person in question would be doing everybody a favour by ceasing to comment on this games website. In my honest opinion, of course. I come here for information and amusement. I went to school for an education.

@ afgavinstan

You are so right. And it looks like there's a movie in the works. This makes be happy. If I get the game, I'll be sure to check your quiz out :)

@ afgavinstan
Although I won't be buying the game I am interested in your Arrested Development quiz.
Mr F!

Any idea how many questions the downloadable packs include? Might get some in the future.

do have the distinct feeling that Sony are playing catchup in the casual domain

Yeah, I mean it's not like dancing games and Singstar + Karaoke Revolutions existed before, and it cannot be that the Buzz! series started a year and a half before the Wii launch...

Unless you wanted to play revisionist and say the PS2 did not happen... that the Sony that is playing catch-up is a different one than the one that e.g. had Bishi Bashi way before there was a Warioware...

@ wewillselfdestruct and @ Madafunkola

You don't need to own the game to play my quiz, you can play it via your web browser at http://www.mybuzzquiz.com. Just do a quick search for it, and it should come up.
Thanks!
Gav:)

Fergal_oc, give it up already, you got pwned!

Me thinks I'll be buying this when I get paid. I was a little dissapointed by Scene It and have been waiting for a new Buzz ever since.

Oh yeah, one other thing.

How are the 4 buzzers charged. Internal rechargables a la Dual Shock3/SixAxis via USB or throwaway AA or AAA's?

I know it's a minor thing, but it's useful info to include in the review, since the wireless hardware seems to be the major change, although I see new quiz packs on PSN this week.

@ afgavinstan

Been there, played it, many happy memories brought back :) I scored 8 out of 8 but then I've watched them all five or six times now so I'd have been ashamed if I hadn't ;)

And I'm feeling a real need to watch them again as soon as I get my series 1 DVDs back from a friend. She's had them for ages. I would have to say that by lending them to her I've made a huge mistake.

Cheers Gav :)

Buzz was a great little game for the PS2. Games like Buzz and lttle big planet will probably make me buy a PS3 again, next year,when they update the SKU and drop the price further.

(I had a PS3 but got shot of it as I just wasn't using it for anything other than remote play on th PSP)

£20 at shopto? seems too good to be true.

How are the 4 buzzers charged. Internal rechargables a la Dual Shock3/SixAxis via USB or throwaway AA or AAA's?

Two AA batteries per controller. They seem to last a while though.

@baardhimself
That's for the 'Solus' version (without buzzers)

The article doesn't mention the 4 extra quiz packs which are available on PSN today. Rock Legends, Sci-Fi Movies, UK Culture Quiz and Australian Culture Quiz. £3.49 each for 500 questions seems pretty good. http://www.buzzthegame.com/en-gb/Browse-...

Can you play this game with a normal DualShock 3/SIXAXIS or do you have to use the Buzzer things? I'd rather buy the Solus version for £17.50 (from GAME) and then use the money I've saved to purchase the quiz packs rather than waste it on gimmicky controllers. Can I do that?

@Darren
The controllers aren't gimmicky. The whole game is designed around them and is all the better because it does have them.

Is anyone having problems with the wireless controllers for this game. I got mine today, and half way through a quiz they just stop working. Has happened everytime except on sinlgle player mode. I have to completely re-boot the ps3 to start over! Also I have only been able to connect online once!

Is this game still not ready?

@LeeSussex I haven't have controller problems, but have noticed the following....

1) Audio options. I have to alter the volume on my amp. Unlike every other PS3 game I own

2) Long, Medium, Short game

3) Rose - okay no real loss there, but still

4) My favourite buzzer sounds - Turkey, Frog & Chipmonk are gone. There was hardly a problem getting clearance for these sounds. Why were they cut.

5) Trophies - Where are they?

6) The Rock Legends pack I bought is not visible within the game.


In short, this game seems unfinished and will almost certainly require patching. Why weren't these things picked up in the beta? How can EG give an unfinished game 8/10?

I played for a couple of hours at the weekend. No problems at all for me. Buzzers all connect in about 2 seconds and stay connected. Got online with no trouble at all. I purchased the UK Culture pack and it shows up in game for me.

Much more fun than Scene It. A bit odd that some old favourite noises are missing though, and you can only have one game length. Oh, and there are no trophies at all.