We’ve Come a Long Ways Since Telly Fun Quiz!
Way back in the day, in the 1990s there was a TV game show in South Africa named ‘Telly Fun Quiz’ hosted by Martin Bailie. South Africans would gather around their oversized TVs, anxiously watching as contestants competed for prizes. The format of Telly Fun Quiz was unforgettable. Game show players had the option to bank prizes, or move towards bigger prizes. Of course, risks were involved. If you chose not to bank your prize and move on to the next question, you could lose everything. Two words instantly ended contestants’ dreams – Booby Trap.
Source: YouTube – Telly Fun Quiz
It wasn’t all doom and gloom – Jokers were scattered among the Booby Traps. Prizes included home security systems and cold cash towards a home loan. Who could forget Martin Bailie’s sidekicks – Anne Tyrrell and Eddie Eckstein. These folks would race across the stage, pushing buttons to turn on TVs, expressing disappointment when Booby-Traps appeared, or elation when Jokers mysteriously lit up the TV screens. The ditzy blonde with skimpy clothing, and the paunchy, toupee-wearing clown that was good old Eddie Eckstein – true characters they were.
But why all the fuss about Telly Fun Quiz? Surely all this hype is nothing more than a slice of nostalgia from a bygone era? Fast forward to the present day. Telecommunications in South Africa have rapidly evolved, delivering best-in-class Internet connectivity to millions of Internet users across the board. We don’t have to rely on TV game shows anymore – we’ve got live game shows available at the click of a button. It’s a quantum leap – innovation par excellence. But let’s recall one last SA showstopper – The Weakest Link!
Source: YouTube – The Weakest Link
‘The Weakest Link’ was hosted by the inimitable Fiona Coyne. As one of the finest gameshows in the country, it ruled the roost. Based on the U.K.’s version of the game, the South African equivalent had a distinctive flavour. Unfortunately, it didn’t all end well for the game’s host, since SA celebrity Fiona Coyne had many personal issues to contend with. At the age of 45, she committed suicide after 22 years of marriage. Despite that national entertainment tragedy, the show remained a hot-ticket item for South African game show aficionados.
How Are Live Game Shows Different from TV Game Shows?
The Internet has facilitated a massive entertainment industry, instantly connecting players and game hosts in real-time. In the good old days, audiences watched in eager anticipation as on-stage contestants competed for prizes. Those folks up on stage at the SABC were representing us, or so we felt.
Nowadays, we don’t have representatives – we can play live game shows in real-time with real hosts. It’s innovation par excellence. Consider all the options that are currently available to players in the form of Quantum Roulette Live, Money Drop Live, Adventures Beyond Wonderland, Quantum Blackjack Live, God of Storms Live, Deal or No Deal: The Big Draw, Spin A Win Live, Sic Bo Deluxe Live, and Hi-Lo Live to name but a few.
Besides, many players are naturally sceptical about the outcomes of chance-based games. This is especially true of online casino games where a computer interface displays the game, bets placed, and outcomes. The RNGs (random number generators) responsible for mimicking chance-based results never quite won over players. People figured that online casinos would manipulate slots spins, blackjack cards dealt, or roulette outcomes after the bets were placed.
With live games, you don’t have to worry about any of that. The results are generated by chance – just like they are with hosted casino games. There are no sophisticated software randomising outcomes – it’s simply lady luck in all her glory.
