Buzz!

"Buzz!" is a series of video games originated by Sleepydog Ltd., [cite web
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title = Buzz is the business
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accessdate =2008-02-07 ] [cite web
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title = Buzz Relentless Q and A
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accessdate =2008-02-07 ] developed by Relentless Software and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles. They are quiz games that sees the players answering trivia questions whilst competing in the fictional game show, Buzz. Created specifically with multi-player party gaming in mind, the series launched in October 2005 and to date comprises 13 games; including seven in the "Buzz!" series and four "Buzz! Junior" titles. The series made the transition to the PlayStation 3 with "" in 2008.

In 2006 the second game in the Buzz series, "", won the BAFTA for best Casual and Social game. [cite web
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As with most TV quiz shows the winner of the game is the player with the most points. The show uses a multi-round format with most games in the series featuring eight individual rounds. The exact rounds vary from game-to-game and more information about the rounds can be found in the individual articles. Each game is hosted by the titular Buzz (voiced by Jason Donovan in the English versions)

The games are played with buzzers - a set of four simple controllers that consist of four coloured answer buttons and a red buzzer. These are intended to replicate the buzzers often seen on TV quiz shows. The buzzers plug into a USB port and the game allows use of either one or two sets of buzzers allowing up to eight players in certain games. The games are usually marketed in two versions, a pack containing both game and buzzers for new purchasers or a game only version for players who already own a set of buzzers.

In January 2008 California-based Buzztime Entertainment filed a legal suit, in the Southern District of California, against Sony Computer Entertainment Europe alleging that Sony had violated several of its trademarks. The suit accused Sony of a "malicious, fraudulent, knowing, wilful, and deliberate" violation of its trademarks. In the suit Buzztime is seeking the recall and destruction of all infringing products and is asking the court for actual damages, punitive damages, legal fees and an order to the US Patent and Trademark Office not to register Sony's pending Buzz trademarks. [cite web
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first = Brendan
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title = Sony Buzz-ed with trademark suit
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date = 2008-01-28
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Buzz! series

The series was launched in October 2005 with ', which was followed by a general knowledge version '. The alternation between specialist subject and general knowledge continued for the next three games in the series, The sports based ' was followed by another general knowledge edition, ', and then another single subject edition based around films, '. The sequence was broken with the March 2008 release of '. "Buzz!: Quiz TV" is a general knowledge quiz but allows players the option of quizzes on a single specific subject. "Buzz!: Master Quiz" is a general knowledge quiz with the addition of single subject rounds.

Buzz! Junior Series

In October 2006 a spin-off series of games designed for children started with the release of '. A second game, ', was released in May 2007, and a third, ' was released in November 2007. Unlike the quiz-based "Buzz!" games, the "Buzz! Junior" series features party games. "Buzz! Junior: Jungle Party" features 40 mini games, and "Buzz! Junior: Robo Jam" features 25. "Buzz! Junior: Robo Jam" introduced the option to play against computer players. The fourth game in the series, ', is based around dinosaurs. It was released in February 2008. A fifth Buzz! Junior game, "Buzz! Junior: Ace Racers" is being developed by Cohort Studios and will be released in October 2008 [http://uk.playstation.com/games-media/games/detail/item114983/Buzz!%E2%84%A2-Junior%3A-Ace-Racers/] . "Buzz! Junior: Ace Racers" will be a racing game where players race cars, boats and planes using their Buzz! buzzer.

Games in the "Buzz! Junior" series have been developed by Magenta Software, FreeStyleGames and Cohort Studios.

Buzz! Buzzers

The Buzz! Buzzer is a special controller set designed specifically for the "Buzz!" game series. The controller features four handsets, each of which has a large red buzzer button and four smaller coloured buttons for picking the answer from the on-screen options. The buzzer set is a USB device, and connects to the USB ports on the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3.

"" saw the release of a wireless version of the buzzers. They connect to the PS2 or PS3 system via a Bluetooth USB dongle each dongle can support up to 4 wireless buzzers so this means another dongle is required for 8 player play with 8 wireless buzzers. The wireless buzzers can be used with both the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 and all previous Buzz! games.

Games

Buzz! Games (PlayStation 2)

*"" (2005)
*"" (2006)
*"" (2006)
*"" (2007)
*"" (2007)
*"" (2008) [cite web
last = Bramwell
first = Tom
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title = Buzz!: The Schools Quiz
work = Eurogamer
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date = 2007-01-11
url = http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=90450
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accessdate = 2008-02-05]
*"" (2008)

Buzz! Games (PlayStation 3)

*"" (2008)

Buzz! Games (PlayStation Portable)

*"" (2008)cite web
last = Bramwell
first = Tom
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title = Buzz! for PS3 and PSP this spring
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date = 2008-02-01
url = http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=91871
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*"" (2008)

Buzz! Junior Games (PlayStation 2)

*"" (2006)
*"" (2007)
*"" (2007)
*"" (2008)
*"" (2008)

Other versions

On 24 November 2006 Eidos released "Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Party Edition" This was the first third party game to support the use of Buzz! buzzers. The game features a single player game closely modelled on the original UK version TV show and a multi-player versions with various modes like Multi-Millionaire where players take it in turns to answer questions with elimination the penalty for a wrong answer the winner being the last player left standing. Millionaire Party allows players to steal questions from rivals.

References

External links

* [http://www.buzzthegame.com/ Buzz! official site]
* [http://www.buzz-games.com/ Buzz! US site]
* [http://www.buzzjunior.com/ Buzz! Junior official website]
* [http://www.sleepydog.net/ Sleepydog Ltd]
* [http://www.relentlesssoftware.co.uk/ Relentless Software]
* [http://www.magentasoftware.com Magenta Software]
* [http://uk.gamespot.com/PS2/puzzle/buzzthehollywoodquiz/index.html? Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz]
* [http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/892/892137.html Buzz! Junior: Monsters release date]
* [http://www.wwtbamthegame.com/default.html Who Wants to be a Millionaire - website of Buzz! version]