Design a Game Show
Game shows have been intriguing audiences ever since the 1950s, and now there's a whole new era of game shows evolving into a mix of reality, celebrities, and millions and millions of dollars worth! Making a game show for yourself is harder than you may think - just like any other show or production, it requires multiple people, stage writers, and not nearly cheap - making a game show is not recommended for children, unless you won't be giving away much stuff like just little prizes and things.
Contents
Steps
Preparation
- A game show is a form of a reality show that has a standard format with rules. There is a competition between either two or more individuals or between teams. As a game show creator, you must fully understand and outline your game from start to finish. You must plan every detail and establish your blueprint. The best source is a book called The Reality of Reality TV by Dr. Melissa Caudle. In this book, Chapter 6 goes to great lengths on formatting a show and how to design the developmental arcs.
- Get a set. You need a place to film your show. If you're performing it live, you could use anywhere like your backyard, your garage door, in your house or anywhere.
- Have a writer for your show. If the show is mostly scripted, have someone write a script, and have a writer to make questions, puzzles, or whatever you'll be using to base your show off of.
- Have camera(s) if you're going to be filming your show. if you're not doing it live, you can use a video editing software like Windows Movie Maker or iMovie to make titles and switch camera angles.
The Show
- Use easy questions/puzzles at first. Answering the first question incorrectly would be embarrassing on a game show, so it’s best for the first couple of questions to be obvious or very easy to get the contestant warmed up and to get them into the game. They should be offered a small reward for their completion of these first easy questions (i.e. guaranteed cash at the end of the game or a small prize) to make the contestant feel that they are progressing in the game.
- Keep the show moving. If the contestant is allowed as much time as they need to make an important choice, it might seem slow or boring. Give them a time limit and make some risk-taking. If there is no risk taking in the game then there is no reason to be nervous when responding to a question.
- Make it risky. Always make there be some possible way of losing, lowering your chances of getting something or gambling. These are things that keep your viewers entertained.
- Offer help. Offer some help to the contestant. This could be anything from polling the audience for an answer to allowing the contestant to skip the question and automatically win the amount of money originally offered for that question.
- Intimidate the stage. Get some colored lighting (blue or red are two of the best choices, particularly blue). For example, in between questions the host asks the contestant if he wants to go for a higher amount of money than what he has or if he wants to go home with the amount that he has earned already. They should be bribed with extra cash or prizes for extra pressure.
- Evolve a catchphrase (i.e. "Deal, or no deal?") that is popularly known among viewers. This gets the audience involved, and makes the show fun to watch.
- Film it. Film your masterpiece, and share it. If people like it, you can start filming real shows or apply to get your show on-air.
Tips
- "After the break: Going to a commercial break immediately after a contestant has finished their game and their score has been announced is not a good idea. Most likely, viewers will tune out.
- Blue, Blue, Blue! Blue is one of the most important elements of an attractive stage.
- Don't give away too much money. In the beginning of your series, be very careful about what's went wrong, how much you've given away and make changes to the show accordingly.
- Bad Example of a Game Show:
Host: "Congratulations! You just won $25,000 and now you’re going for $50,000. Answering the following question correctly will win you $50,000 but if you answer incorrectly you will only win the $25,000 that you have earned so far. Are you ready for your question?"
- Good Example of a Game Show:
Host: "Okay, so far you’ve won $25,000. Your next question will be valued at $50,000. Answering correctly means you’ve won $50,000 and have a chance to play for $75,000. Answering incorrectly will make you plummet to $10,000. That’s $15,000 down the drain. So do you want to quit with $25,000 or try for $50,000? You'll have 30 seconds to answer the question once it and the four choices have appeared."
